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LETTERS,
WRITTEN BY
JONATHAN S W I F T, D. D.
DEAN OF ST. PATRICK'S, DUBLIN,
AND
SEVERAL OF HIS FRIENDS.
FROM THE YEAR 1 703 TO I 74O.
PUBLISHED FROM THE ORIGINALS;
WITH
NOTES EXPLANATORY AND HISTORICAL,
By J O H N H AW K E S W O R T H, LL. D,
THE FIFTH EDITION.
VOLUME II.
LONDON:
Pf'ntfd for T. Davies, in Ru(fel-Street, Ccvent-Caidfn ;
R. Datis, in Piccadiily ; L. Davjs and C. Reymexi,
in Holborn J and J, Dodjiey, in Tall inalU
MDCC L X VII.
( iii )
SRLF
URL
CONTENTS
T O
V o
U- M
II.
Letter
C- Or. Smalridge to Dr. Swift
CI. Lord Chancellor Phipps to Dr. Swift
CII. Lord Chancellor Phipps to Dr. Swift
Cin. Dr. Davenant to Dr. Swift
CIV. Duchefs of Ormond to Dr. Swift
CV. Dr. Swift to Bifhop Sterne —
CVI. Lord Primate Lindfay to Dr. Swift
CVII. Lord Primate Lindfay to Dr. Swift —
C\ III. Lord Chancellor Phipps to Dr. Swift
CIX. Earl of Anglefey to Dr. Swift —
ex. Earl of Peterborow to Dr. Swift -
CXI. Lord Oxford to Dr. Swift ■
CXII. An informer to Lord Oxford — —
CXIII. Humorous Lines by Lord Oxford
CXIV. Humorous Lines by Lord Oxford
CXV. Duchefs of Ormond to Dr. Swifc
CXVL Mr. Charlton to Dr. Swift —
CXVII. Mr. Gay to Dr. Swift ■ ■
CXVIII. Alderman Barber to Dr. Swift
CXIX. Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift —
CXX. Mr. Harley to Dv. Swift
A 2
Page
I
2
3
5
7
'4
i6
17
20
21
22
23
24
26
29
3«
32
34
CXXL
( iv )
Letter Page
CXXI. Mr. Thomas to Dr. Swift — 36
CXXII. Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift — -. 37
CXXIir. Alderman Barber to Dr. Swift 40
CXXJV. Alderman Bai her to Dr. Swift — 41
CXXV. Mr, Tliomas (Secretary to Lord Treafurer)
to Dr. Swift 41
CXXVL Mr. Lewis to Dr. Swift 42
CXXVIL Mr. Fordto Dr. Swift 44
CXXVIH. Mr. Ford to Dr. Swift 48
CXXIX. Dr. Arbmhnot to Dr. Swift 50
CXXX. Lord Bolingbrokc to Dr. Swift — 52
CXXXL Mr. Lewis to Dr. Swift . 53
CXXXir. Lord Harley to Dr. Swift 55
CXXXm. Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift — 56
CXXXIV. Mr. Ford to Dr. Swift . 58
CXXXV. Mr. Lewis to Dr. Swift 60
CXXXVL Duke of Ormond to Dr. Swift 6i
CXXXVn. Mr. FordtoDr. Swift 62
CXXXVIIL Mr. Ford to Dr. Swift — 64
CXXXIX. Mr. Lewis to Dr. Swift 64
CXL. Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift 66
CXLL Lord Oxford to Dr. Swift 67
CXLir. Mr. Lewis to Dr. Swift — — 68
CXLIIL Lady M to Dr. Swift — 70
CXLIV. Mr. Lewis to Dr. Swift 72
CXLV. Alderman Barber to Dr. Swift — 73
CXLVL Mr. Lewis to Dr. Swift 74
CXLVIL Mr. Ford to Dr. Swift 74
CXLVm. Mr. Birch to Dr. Swift , 79
CXLIX. LordBolingbroke to Dr. Swift 80
CL. Mr. Lewis to Dr. Swift • 81
CLL Alderman Barber to Dr. Swift — 81
CLIZ.
( V )
Letter Page
CLII. Mr. Ford to Dr. Swift i ■ 83
CLIII. Mr. Lewis to Dr, Swift 1 86
CLIV, Mr. Lewis to Dr. Swift Sj
CLV. Lord Bolingbroke to Dr. Swift — — 89
CLVL Mr. Ford to Dr. Swift 90
CLVIL Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift — 92
CLVm. Mr. Ford to Dr. Swift 94
CLIX. Mr. Gay to Dr. Arbuthnot or Dr. Swift 96
CLX. Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift 99
CLXL Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift .. 102
CLXIL Dr. Swift to Sir Arthur Langford 103
CLXIIL Mr. Lewis to Dr. Swift 104
CLXIV. Dr. Swift a Monf. Giraldi 105
CLXV. Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift — io5
CLXVL Dr. Friend to Dr. Swift . loS
CLXVn. Duchefsof Ormond to Dr. Swift 109
CLXVIIL Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift 1 1 1
CLXIX. Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift — « 112
CLXX. Dutchefs of Ormond to Dr. Swift 1 1 3
CLXXL Bilhop Atterbury to Dr. Swift 115
CLXXIL Lady Bolingbroke to Dr. Swift 119
CLXXin. Duchefs of Ormond to Dr. Swift 120
CLXXIV. Lord Bolingbroke to Dr. Swift 122
CLXXV. Mr. Ford to Dr. Swift 124
CLXXVL Mr. Lewis to Dr. Swift 1 125
CLXXVIL Mr. Lewis to Dr. Swift — 1 27
CLXXVIIL Mr. Lewis to Dr. Swift ~ 130
CLXXIX. Mr. Lewis to Dr. Swift 131
CLXXX. Mr. Prior to Dr. Swift 132
CLXXXL Lord Oxford to Dr. Swifc — 133
CLXXXII.
( vi )
Letter Page
CLXXXII. Mr. Prior to Dr. Swift 134
CLXXXlil. Mr.AddifontoDr.Svvift — 136
CLXXXIV. Lord Harley to Dr. Swift 137
CLXXXV. Mr. Prior to Dr. Swift — 138
CLXXXVL Mr. Prior to Dr. Swif; 1 39
CLXXXVII. M . Prior to Dr. Swift — 1-40
CLXXXVIII. Mr. Addifon to Dr. Swift 141
CLXXXLX. Dr. Arbuthnot toDr. Swift — 143
CXL. Dr. Aibuthnot to Dr. Swift — 145
CXCL Lord Bolingbroke to Dr. Swift 147
CXCIL Mr. Prior to Dr. Swift 153
CXCIIL Mr. Prior to Dr. Swift 154
CXCIV. Duchefs of Ormond to Dr. Swift 156
CXCV. Mr. Prior to Dr. Swift 158
CXCVL Sir Thomas Hanmer to Dr. Swift 161
CXCVIL Sir Conftantine Phipps to Dr. Swift 162
CXCVIIL Mr. Prior to Dr. Swift — 163
CXCIX. Mr. Prior to Dr. Swift ~ 164
CC. Lord Bolingbroke to Dr. Swift ■ 166
CGL Duchefs of Ormond to Dr. Swift — 174
CCIL Lord Bolingbroke to Dr. Swift — 175
CCIIL Dr. Snape to Dr. Swift . 181
CCIV. Mr. Gay to Dr. Swift . 182
CCV. Dr. Swift to the Duke of Grafton 184
CCVI. Mr. Gay to Dr. Swift 185
CCVIL Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift — 188
CCVIH. Duchefs of Ormond to Dr. Swift 190
CCIX. Lord Bolingbroke to Dr. Swift — 192
CCX. Lord C to Dr. Swift . 196
CCXL LordC to Dr. Swift 197
CCXn. Lord Bolingbroke to Dr. Swifc — • 198
CCXIIL L'Abbe des Fontaines a M. Swifc — 206
CCXIV.
( vll )
Letter P'lg*
CCXIV. Dr. Swift aL'Abbe des Fontaines 208
CCXV. Lord Bolingbroke to Dr. Swift — 210
CCXVL Dr. Swiftto Mr.Worral . 213
CCXVIL Dr. Swift toMr. Worall — 215
CXXVin. Dr. Swift to Mr. Worrall . 2 1 7
CCXIX. Dr. Swift to Mr. Wo-rall — 219
CCXX. Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift — 220
CCXXL Dr. Swift to Mr. Worrall — 222
CCXXri. Dr Arbuthnot -0 Dr. Swift — 223
CCXXIII. Dr. Swift to Mr. Worrall — 224
CCXXIV Lord Bolingbroke to the three Yahoos 226
CCXXV. Dr. Swiftto Mr. Worrall — 227
CCXX VL Dr. Swift to Mr. Worrall — 229
CCXXVIL Mr. Pulteney to Dr. Swift 229
CCXXVIII. Mr Gay to Dr. Swift 231
CCXXIX. Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift — 234
CCXXX. Lord Bolingbroke to Dr. Swift — 236
CCXXXL Mr. Gay to Dr. Swift — 237
CCXXXII. Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift 242
CCXXXm. Mrs. Hoii'ard to Dr Swift — 246
CCXXXIV. Lord Peterborow to Dr. Swift 248
CCXXXV. Lord Peterborow to Dr. Swift 250
CCXXXVI. Lady Bolingbroke to Dr. Swift 25 i
CCXXXVU. Lord Bolingbroke to Dr. Swift 253
CCXXX VIII. Mr. Gay to Dr. Swift 254
CCXXXIX. Lord Bolingbroke to Dr". Swift 256
CCXL. Lord Bolingbroke to Dr. Swift — 357
CCXLI. Lord Bolingbroke to Dr. Swift — 258
CCXLir Lord Bolingbroke to Dr. Swift 259
CCXLin. Lord Bolingbroke to Dr. Swift — 260
CCXr.IV. Lord Bolingbroke to Dr. Swift — 260
CCXLV. Mr. Pulteney to Mr. Pope — ■ 261
CCXLVL
{ vlii >
CCXLVI. Mrs. Howard to Dr. Swlfc 261
CCXL VII. Mrs. Howard to Dr. Swift 262
CCXLVIII. Chevalier Ramiay to Dr. Swift 263
CCXLIX. Dr.Swift toMr.V/orrall 264
CCL. Dr. Swift to Mrs. Howard • 266
CCLI. Dr Arbuchnot toDr. Swift 267
CCLII. Mr. Voltaire to Dr. Swift 269
CCLIII. Mr Voltaire to Dr. Swift 270
CCLI V. Mr. G.y to Di. Swift . 270
CCLV. Mr. Gay to Dr. Swift . 272
CCLVI. Dr. Swift CO M . Worrall 274
CCLVII. Dr. Swift to Mr. Worrall — 275
CCLVIII. Dr. Swift to Mr. Worrall 276
CCLIX. Mr. GaytoDr. Swift — . 280
CCLX. Tvlr. Gay to Dr. Swift 281
CCLXI. Dr. Swift to Mr Worrall — 283
CCLXir. Mr. Gay to Dr. Swift ■ 283
CCLXIir. Mr. Gay toDr. Swift 285
CCLXiV. Dr. Arbuthnot toDr. Swift — 288
CCLXV. Chevalier Ramfay to Dr.Swift . 290
CCLXVI. Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr?Swift 291
CCLXVJI. Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift 292
CCLXVIII. Lady Catherine Jones to Dr. Swift 293
CCLXfX. Lord Bolingbroke to Dr. Swift 294
CCLXX. Mr. Gay toDr. Swift 295
CCLXXL LordB to Dr. Swift — 297
CCLXXiL Mr. Gay toDr Swift ■ 300
CClXXIir. Mr. Gay toDr. Swift — — 301
CCLXXrV. LordB. to Dr. Swift — — 304
CCLXXV. Mr. Gay toDr. Swift — — 307
CCLXXVL Lord B. to Dr. Swift — -- 308
CCLXXVIL Lady B. G. to Dr. Swift — 311
LETTERS
LETTERS, &c.
LETTER C.
Dr. Smalridge* to Dr. Swift.
MR. DEAN, Sept. 27, 1713.
W HEN you was fo kind as to favour the mafter of
the Temple f and me, with your company at the chap-
Iain's table at KenJi7igton, there dined with us one
yix. FiddesXf a well-deferving clergyman, whofe cir-
camftances, we told you, were not at all fuitable to
his merits. You exprefied on that occafion fo gene-
rous a concern for him, and fo great a readinefs to do
him any good offices, which might lie in your way,
that he feems to think he Ihould be wanting to him-
felf, if he did not endeavour to cultivate an interell
with one fo willing and fo able to ferve him. He
has therefore made repeated inftances to me, that I
* ♦ Afterwards bifhop of Pn7?o/.'
•f * Dr. Sherlock, afterwaids bifhop oi London.^
J « RUhard Fiddes, afterwards D. D. auihi)r of a Sodj ofjiiv't'
nityy the Life of Cardinal \fo\Ly, ^..'
Vol. 11, B wpuld
[ -- }
would remind you cf him, which I Ihould not Iiavs:
hearkened to, were I not afiured, that you would ex-
cufe, if not thank me, for farnifhing you with an op-
portunity of doing a generous and good-natured thing.
You will not, I fanfy, think a formal application to-
any great man in his behalf, either proper or requi-
fitej but if you fliould, upon the perufal of one or
two of his fermons, think as well of them as I do,
and fhould, in converfation with my lord trcafurer,
exprefs a good opinion of the author, one kind word
from you, feafonably dropped, might determine his
fortune, and give you the fatisfadion of having made
him and his family happy as they can wifli to be.
I am, Sir, your moll: humble fervant,
GEO. SMALRIDGE.
LETTER CL
Lord Chancellor P h i p p s to Dr. Swift,
SIR, Dublin, Oa. lo, 1713.
1 H A D the favour of your kind letter of the twenty-
fecond of September, and had fooncr acknowledged it,
if I had not been prevented by the conftant hurry we
have been in, with relation to the city and parliament
affairs.
I heartily congratulate your fafc arrival in London,
and return you, with all the gratitude imaginable,
my thanks for the great trouble you have given your-
felf, as well on behalf of my fon in particular, as of
tills kingdom in general. And I am forry you fhould
Z venture
[ 3 1
venture To far as to turn your fingers ; but yon prove
fuch misfortunes often liappen to gentlemen, who
have a hearty zeal for the intereft of their friends.
But this comfort attends them, that the burning goes
off foon ; whereas the credit and honour of ferving
one's friend laft always. The account you fent me
of Mr. Tror/elefs being an envoy was new, and had
not reached us before your letter came. I know not
how fufficiently to acknowledge the obligations you
have laid on me ; but aflure you, if you have any
commands on this fide of the water, there is no one
will be more proud of being honoured with them,
than he, who is, with very great refped, your molt
obedient humble fcrvant,
CON. PHIPPS.
LETTER CII.
Lord Chancellor P h i p ? s to Dr. S w i f t.
DEAR .'". I R, Dublin, Ocl. 24, J713.
1am indebted to you for your kind letters of the
eighth and tenth inftant, and I very heartily acknow-
ledge the obligation. That of the eighth gave me a
great many melancholy thoughts, when 1 reflefted
upon the danger our conllitution is In, by the neglect
and fupinenefs of our friends, and the vigilance and
unanimity of our enemies : but I hope your parlia-
ment proving fo good, will awaken our friends, and
unite them more firmly, and make the.m more adive.
B 2 That
C 4 1
That part of your letter of the tenth, which related
tx3 my fon, gave me a great fatisfaftion ; for though
your commiffioners here have heard nothing of it,
yet I believed Mr. Ketghily might bring over full in-
ilruftions in it : but he is arrived, and knows nothing
of it ; fo that whatever good intentions my lord trea-
furer had in relation to my fon, his lordlhip has for-
gotten to give any direftions concerning him ; for,
v/ith him, things are jult as they were when you left
Dublin. If you will be fo kind to put his lordfhip in
jnind of it, you will be very obliging.
I cannot difcharge the part of a friend, if I omit to
let you knov/, that your great neighbour at St. Pul-
cherts is very angry with you. He accufeth yoa for
going away v/ithout taking your leave of him, and in-
tends in a little time to compel you to refide at your
deanry. He lays fome other things to your charge,
which you fliall know in a little time.
We hourly expeft my lord lieutenant *. The whigs
begin to be fenfible they muft expeft no great coun-
tenance from him, and begin to be a little down in
the mouthj fmce they find Broderick is not to be theii
fpeaker f. I am, with very great truth, your moit
obedient fervant.
* • Duke of Shreiijir.ry.''
f ' He was^ however, chofra Ipeaker, by a majority of ftur
voices.'
LET-
f s 1
LETTER cm.
Dr. D A V E N A N T * to Dr. Swift.
SIR, Windfor, Nov. 3, 1713,
1 OU have the charader of employing, in good of-
fices to others, the honour and happinefs you have of
being often with my lord treafurer. This ufe of your
accefs to him is an uncommon inftance of gcnerofity,
deferving the higheft praifes ; for, moft commonly,
men are moft apt to convert fuch advantages to their
own fingle intereft, without any regard of others ;
though, in my poor opinion, not fo wifely. Afts of
friendlliip create friends, even among ftrangers, that
tafte not of them ; and, in my experience, I hardly
ever knew a man friendly in the courfe of his pro-
ceedings, but he was fupported in the world ; ingra-
titude being the vice, of which the generality of men
are moft aftiamed to be thought guilty.
My fon t and I have reafons to return you our
thanks, for what you have already done of this kind
in his favour, and we beg the continuance of it. Mi-
nifters of ftate have fuch multiplicity of bufinefs, that
it is no wonder, if they forget low individuals ; and,
in fuch a cafe, private perfons muft be beholden to
fome good-natured man, to put thofe in power in
mind of them ; otherwife they may be forgotten, till,
• Infpeftor-general of the exports and imports.
f * Henry Da-venant, Efqj who had been employed laCtrmanf
as refidcnt.'
B 3 old
[ 6 ]
old age overtakes them. Such well-dirpofed remem-
brancers deferve accefs, familiarity, and intereft with
great men ; and, perhaps, they are the moft ufeful
fervants they can countenance in their hours of Icil'ure.
I need not tell you, that, in point of time, he is
above all pretenders to foreign bufinefs ; that his af-
fairs have now depended almoil three years ; that, in
the interim, it has gone very hard with him ; and,
that he gave a very early inflance of his zeal to the
prefent adminiflration. Eut what he builds his hopes
moll; upon, is the promife my lord treafurer v/as
pleafed to make to the duke of Shreivjhiiry, juft as his
grace left Wind/or ^ that a provifion ihould me made
for Mr. Da--jenant. We mull intreat you to find fome
lucky moment of reprefenting to my lord, that the
young man is prelTed by a nearer concern than that of
making his fortune, and that lovers can hardly be per-
fuaded to be as patient as other men. The duke has
earned his miflrefs from him, and will not confent to
make him. happy, till he fees him in fome way of be-
ing fettled, in which how anxious any delay muft be
(pofFefuon depending upon it) he leaves you to judge,
who have fo well lludied mankind, and who know,
that love is a palTion, in one of his age, much ftronger
than ambition. I beg your pardon for this long trou-
ble, and am, Sir, your moft humble and obedient
fervant,
CHA. PAVENANT.
LET-
f 7 1
LETTER CIV.
The Duchcfs of O r m o n n to Dr. S w i f t.
DOCTOR, Nov. 3,1713. Eleven o'clock at ni;ht.
1 HOPE your fervant has told you, I fent to beg
the favour of you to come hither to-night; but ftnce
you could not conveniently, I hope you will not deny
ine the fatisfaftion of feeing you to-morrow morning.
My lord joins with me in that requeft, and will fee
no company but you. I hope you will come before
ten o'clock, becaufe he is to go at that hour to Wind-
for. I beg your pardon for fending fo early as I have
ordered them to carry this ; but the fear of your be-
ing gone abroad, if they went later, occafioned that
trouble given you by, Sir, your molt fmcere and moft
faithful humble fervant,
M. ORMOND.
LETTER CV.
Dr. Swift to the Bifhop o{ Dromore*.
MY LORD, London, Dec. 19, 1713.
I HAVE two letters from you to acknowledge, one
of the fifth, and the other of the eleventh inftant. I
am very glad it lies in my way to do any fervice to
Mr. 1Vorrall\, and that his merits and my inclina-
* Dr. Stertie.
"h See note preceding the firft letter to Mr. IFirrali in this col-
Isftion,
B 4 nons
C 8 ]
tions agree fo well. I wrote this port to Dr. Sytige^
to admit him. I am glad your lordfhip thinks of re-
moving your palace to the old, or fome better place,
I wifh I were near enough to give my approbation ;
and if you do not chufe till fummer, I (hall, God
willing, attend you. Your fecond letter is about Dr.
MarJ}}. who is one I always loved, and have fhewn it
lately, by doing every thing he could defire from a
brother. I fhould be glad, for fome reafons, that he
would get a recommendation from the lord lieutenant,
or at leaft that he be named. I cannot fay more at
this diftance, but affure him, that all due care is
taken of him. I have had an old fcheme, as your
lordfhip may remember, of dividing the bifhoprics of
Kthnore and Ardagh *. I advifed it many months
ago, and repeated it lately ; and the queen and mi-
riftry, I fuppofe, are fallen into it. I did likewife
Jay very earneftly before proper perfons the juftice,
and indeed necellity, of chufing to promote thofe of
the kingdom ; which advice has been hearkened to,
and I hope will be followed. I would likewife fay
fomething in relation to a friend of your lordfhip's ;
but I can only venture thus much, that it was not to
be done, and you may eafily guefs the reafons.
I know not who are named among you for the pre-
ferments J and, my lord, this is a very nice point to
talk of at the diftance I am. I know a perfon there
better qualified, perhaps, than any that will fucceed.
* Thefe fees were then vacant, and wer; granted the month fol-
lowing to the lord lieutenant's chaplain, Dr. God-wyru
Bufes
. [ 9 ]
But, my lord, our thoughts here are, that your king-
dom leans too much one way ; and, believe me, it
cannot do fo long, while the queen and adminiftra-
tion here a6l upon fo very different a foot. This is
more than I care to fay ; and I will for once venture
a Hep farther than, perhaps, difcretion (hould let me,
that L never faw fo great a firmnefs in the court, as
there now is, to purfue thofe meafures, upon which
this miniftry began, whatever fome people may pre-
tend to think to the contrary : and were certain ob"
jeftions made againft fome perfons we both know, re-
moved, I believe I might have been inftrumental to
the fervice of fome, whom I much efteem. Pick
what you can out of all this, and believe me to be
ever yours. Sec,
LETTER CVL
Lord Primate Lindsay to Dr. Swift.
SIR, Dec. 7.6, 1713.
Yours of Dccemler the 8th I have received, and
have obeyed your commands ; but am much troubled
to find, that the trade of doing ill offices is ftill con-
tinued. As for my part, I can entirely clear myfelf
from either writing or faying any thing to any one's
prejudice upon this occafion * ; and if others have
* ' There was at thi>: time a great difference b -tween the houfe
of lords and commons in Ireland, ab' uf the lord chancellor Phifps
.of that kingdom j the latter adiipfilng the queen lo remove him
fiom hif port-, and the former aJdr;fl].ig in his favour.'
wounded
[ 10 ]
wounded me in the dark, is is no more than they
have done before ; for archbilhop Tillafon formerly
remembered, that if he fhould hearken to what the
IriJJj clergy faid of one another, there was not a man
in the whole country, that ought to be preferred.
We are now adjourned for a fortnight, and the
commons for three weeks. I hear our lord lieute-
nant is not well pleafed, that we have adjourned fliort
of them : and I fanfy the queen will not be well
pleafed, that the commons have had fo little re-
gard to the difpatch of public bufinefs, as to make
fo long an adjournment as three weeks : and indeed
they lately feem to intimate, that if the lord chan-
cellor * is not removed by that time, they will give
her majelly no more money ; and fome of them do
not flick to fay as muCh ; and tliink it a duty incum-
bent on the crown, to turn out that minifter, (how
innocent foever he be) whom the commons have ad-
drefled againfl:.
I think it is plain to any, who know the Hate of
affairs here, that no party hath ftrength enough di-
redly to oppofe a money-bill in this kingdom, when
the government thinks fit to exert iticlf, as to be fure
it always will do upon fuch occafions : and the half-
pay officers, no doubt, will readily come in to that
fupply, out of which they are to receive their pay.
But fhould all fail, yet the queen fcill may make her-
fclf eafy, by difhanding two or three regiments, and
flriking off fome unnecefTary penfions.
* Sir Conf.Mtht Pinups.
He I he I
[ II 1
Hohbes, in liis Bchemcth, talks of a hcighth in time
as well as place ; and if ever there was a heighth in
time here, it is certainly now ; for fome men feem
to carr)' things higher, according to their poor pov/er,
than they did in Englanii \xi \6\x. And now they
threaten, (and am pretty well aflured, have refolved
upon it) that if the chancellor is not difcarded, they
will impeach him before the lords in England. But
if they have no more to fay againft him, than what
their addrefs contains, 1 think they will go upon no
very wife errand. I queftion not but that you will re-
ceive the votes, addrefles, and reprefentations of both
hcufes from other hands, and therefore 1 have not
troubled you with them : but if the parliament fhali
continue to fit, you may expeft a great produft of that
kind ; for the commons have taken upon themfelves
to be a court of judicature, have taken examinations
out of the judges hands about murder, (which is trea-
fon here) without ever applying to the government
for them ; and before trial, havo voted the flieriffs and
officers to have done their duty, and acquitted them-
felves well, when pofTibly the time may yet come,
that fome may ftill be hanged for that faft, which,
in my poor opinion, is entirely dellrudlive of liberty,
and the freedom of eledtions.
1 am your molt humble fervant, y^.
LET-
[ " 3
LETTER CVII.
Lord Primate Lindsay to Dr. Swift.
S I R, Jan. 5, 17 1 3- 14.
1 OURS I received the 2d Inftant, and immediately
got Mr. juftice Nutley to write to the bifliop oiKillala*,
at Kells, to know of him, whether, if we could get
him tranflated to the bifhopric of Raphoe, he would
accept of it : and this day we received his anfwer,
that it was not worth his while to carry his family fo
far northwards, for fo little advantage as that bifhopric
would bring him ; his own being upwards of a thou-
fand pounds a year, and Raphoe not much above eleven
hundred. The reafon why I got judge AW^- to write,
was becaufe I apprehended it might feem irkfome to
him to be perfuaded by myfelf to accept of what I
left : though at the fame time I can aflure you, I
have done little more than faved myfelf whole by that
bifhopric , and he might, if he pleafed, in a little
time have received 1600/. or 17C0/. for fines; fo
that if this comes time enough to your hands, you
will prevent any further motion that way. But if
Meath drops, I believe it would be an acceptable pod ;
and the truth is, he hath always, in the worll of
times, voted honellly, and behaved himfelf as a true
fon of the church. In the mean time, be afTured the
judge knows not that you are concerned in this affair.
• Dr. William Lloyd.
Tlier«
[ 13 1
Tliere is a gentleman, whom I believe you muft
have heard of. Dr. Aticire^v Hamilton *, archdeacon of
Raphoe, a man of good learning and abilities, and
one of great interell in that country, whom I could
\yifh you would move for (fince the bifhop of KHlala
refufeth) to fucceed me in Raphoe, as one, that is the
moft likely to do good in that part of the country, of
any one man I know.
And now be pleafed to accept my thanks for the
great fervices you have done me ; and as you have
contributed much to my advancement, fo I muft de-
fire you, upon occafion, to give me your farther af-
fiftance for the fervice of the church. "^
The parliament is prorogued to the i8th inllant j
but the whigs continuing obftinate, and deaf to all
perfuafions to carry on the queen's bufmefs with peace
and gentlenefs, we conclude it muft be diftblved.
If this ftiould not come time enough to your hands,
to prevent the biftiop of Killaloe's letter for a tranfla-
tion to Raphoe, I will labour all I can to make hiia
eafy. I am, &c.
* * Though recrirmer.ded by the primate to fucceed him in the
fee of Raphoe, he was not preferred to it j Dr. Edward Sytige being
then advanced to that bjfiippric.'
L S T^
C 14 J
LETTER CVIII.
Lord Chancellor Phipps to Dr. Swift,
DEAR SIR, Dublin, Jan. 15, 1713.
JVlANY of my letters from London tell me how much
I am obliged to you for your friendly folicitation on
my fon's behalf, which will be always remembered
by us both, with the fame gratitude, as if it had fuc-
ceeded. 1 had congiatulations from the duke of O;-
mend, my lord BoUngbroke, and others, on account of
my fon's having the place ; for they fent me word it
was aftually done ; and feveral others had letters of
it, and onr friends were extremely rejoiced at the well
timing of it, and it was a great addition to the mor-
tification of the whigs : and the difappointment will
be a caufe of great joy to them. But in this, and all
other things, I fubmit to the judgment of my fupe-
riors, who know beft what is fit to be done. As to
looking out for any thing elfe for my fon, there is
nothing elfe here, that 1 know is fit for him ; and if
any thing worth his having falls in England, it will
be difpofed of before I can have notice of it.
We are told by every body, that the reft of our va-
cant biihoprics v. a\ be filled to our fitisfadion : if
they are, you mull be one of them. But if you are
refolved, that you will not yet epijcopa^-i there, give
me leave to recommend to you an afiair of my lord
AbercorriSf which the vicars choral have made with
him
[ 15 ]
him for renewing his leafe *. I am informed there
are fome mifunderftandings between you. It is very
anhappy there fhould be any difference between two
fuch fure and great friends to the common caufe. . I
do sffure you, we are very much obliged to my lord
Jhercorii for his great fervice in thefe times of diffi-
culty : he is as good a friend as any in the world,
and as bad an enemy ; and I am very fure, if you
would, make him a compliment, and oblige him in
this matter, you would gain an entire true friend of
him for the future, and oblige a great many of your
friends here, who have all a great value and eReem
for him.
I heartily congratulate you on her majeily's reco-
very, and the good effect it has had in uniting our
friends. That, together with the refolution, that is
taken to fupport the church-intereft, will, without
doubt, in a little time render all things eafy and quiet
in both kingdoms ; though as yet our whigs here are
as obflinate and perverfe as ever. The commons are
refolved, they will give no money-bill till I am re-
moved : and the aldermen will not own my lord
mayor, nor proceed to any eledion, notwithftanding
the opinion of all the judges here, and of the at-
torney-general, and all the queen's council (except
Sir Jofeph Jekyll) in England.
* Th'o Icafe was for the preateft part of Tork-Jlrest, in wliich
Jcrd Merwrn lived j aid by the terms of their charter, the vicars
choral cariiot make \zi.W->, 'v.thout confent of the dean and chap'cr.
I wifh
t i6 ]
1 wifii you many happy new years, and lliould be
very proud to receive your commands here, beings
with the ucmoft fincerity and efteem, your moll obu-'
dient humble fervant,
CON. P HIP PS.
LETTER CiX.
Earl of Anglesey to Dr* S \v i f t.
MR. DEAN, Dublin, Jan. 16, 1713-14,
You judged extremely right of me, that I fhouldj
with great pleafurc, receive what you tell me, that
my endeavours to ferve her majeily, in tiiis kingdom,
are agreeable to my lord treafurei-, and the reft of the
minifters. I have formerly fo freely exprefled to you
the honour I muft always have for his lordihip, that
I think I cannot explain myfelf more fully on that
fubjedl. But what his lordihip has already done for
the church, and the church-interefl; here, and what
we have affurance will foon be done, will give his
lordlliip fo entire a command in the affe6\ions of all
honell men here (which are not a few) that, I am
perfuaded, he will foon find Ireland ii.n eafy part of the
adminiftraticn. For it is my firm opinion, that fteady
and vigorous meafures will fo ftrengthen the hands of
our friends in both kingdoms, that, after the eftbrts
of defpair (which never laft long) are over, her ma-
jelly, and her minifters, will receive but little trou-
ble from the fadion, cither on this or your fide of
the water.
You
I 17 1
*
You are very kind to us in your good offices for
Mr. Phipps, becaufe a mark of favour fo feafonablyi
as at this time, conferred on lord chancellor's fon,
will have a much greater influence, and reach farther
than his lordfliip's perfon. I am preparing for tny
journey, and I hope I fhall be able to lay fuch a Hats
of this kingdom before my lord treafurer, as may pre-
vent future difappointments, when it fliall be thought
necefTary to hold a parliament. If this parliament is
not to fit after the prefent prorogation, I do think,
were I with you, I could offer feme reafons why the
filling the vacant bifhoprics fhould be deferred for a
little time. I praife God for his great goodnefs in
reftoring her majefty to her health j the bleffing of
which, if we had no other way of knowing, we might
learn from the mortification it has given a certain fet
of men here.
I fhall trouble you with no compliments, becaufe
I hope foon to tell you how much I am, dear Sir,
yours,
ANGLESEY*
LETTER ex.
Earl ofPETERBORow to Dr. S w i f f *
March 5, ijii't^,
Oy E R I E S for Dr. Swift, next Saturday, at dinner,
W Hether any great man, or minifler, has favoured
the earl of Peterborovj with one finglc line fmce he left
Vol. IL C Eng^
[ i8 1
land* ; for, as yet, he has not received one word
from any of them, nor his friend of St, Patrick ?
Whether, if they do not write till they know what
to write,, he lliall ever hear from them ?
Whether any thing can be more unfortunate, than
to be overcome when ftrongeft, outwitted having moft
wit, and baffled having moft money ?
Whether betwixt two ftools (reverend Dean) be not
a good old proverb, which may give fubjed for daily
meditation and mortification ?
I fend the lazy fcribler a letter from the extremities-
of the earth, where I pafs my time, admiring the hu-'
mility and patience of that power heretofore' fo terri-
ble ; and the new fcene, which we fee, to wit, the
moft Chriftian king waiting with fo much refignation
and refpeft, to know the emperor's pleafiire as to
peace or war.
• Where I refledV, with admiration, upon the politics
of thofe, who, breaking with the old allies, dare not
make ufe of the new ones ; who, pulling down the
old rubbifti and ftrufture, do not ered a new fabric
on folid foundations. But this is not fo much to the
purpofe ; for in the world of the moon, provided
toaftings continue, the church and ftate can be in no
danger.
But, alas ! in this unmerry country, where we
have time to think, and are under the neceffity of
thinking; where impioufly we make ufe of reafon,.
without a blind refignation to providence, the bottle
* This letter was vvriitea from Skilj^ the earl of Paerborow
being "abroad oa embaflies,
or
t 19 1
or chance, what opinion, think you, we have of i\i6
prefent management in the refined parts of the world,
where there are juft motives of fear ? When neither
fteadinefs nor conduft appears, and when the evil
feems to come on apace, can it be believed, that ex-
traordinary remedies are not thought of ?
Heavens ! what is our fate ! What might have
been our portion, and what do we fee in the age wc
live in ? France and England, the kings of iS'/i7z« and
Sid/y, perplexed and confounded by a headHrong
youth * ; one, who has loll fo many kingdoms by
pride and folly ; and all thefe powerful nations at a
gaze, ignorant of their deftiny ; not capable of form-
ing a fcheme, which they can maintain, againft a
prince, who has neither Ihips, money, nor conduft.
Some of the minifters aflifted and fupported with ab-
folute power, others with a parliament at their dif-
pofal, and the moft inconfiderable of them with the
Indies at their tail.
And what do I fee in the centre, as it were, of ig-
norance and bigotry } The firft requeft of a parliament
to their king is to employ efFedual means againft the
increafe of priefts ; the idle devourers of the fat of
the land. We fee churches, ftiut up by the order of
the pope, fet open by dragoons, to the general con-
tent of the people. To conclude ; it fell out, that
one of our acquaintance f found himfelf, at a great
* Charles the twelfth of Siveden.
\ ' Probably the Rev. Mr. George Berkeley, fellow of tiublin-
college, who went chaplain and fccretary to ilie earl of Pete'lcrcnu
to ^icVy, at the recommendation of Dr. SiviftJ'
C 2 table.
[ 20 ]
table, the only excommunicated perfon by his ho-
linefs ; the reft of the company eating and toafting,
under anathemas, with the courage of a hardened
heretic.
Look upon the profe I fend you. See, neverthe-
lefs, what a fneaking figure he makes at the foot of
the parfon. Who could expeft this from him ? But
he thinks, refolves, and executes.
If you can guefs from whence this comes, addrefs
your letter to him. A meffieurs Rajkell et Freiti 5«-
cert/otii, Genoa.
LETTER CXL
Lord Treafurer Ox ford to Dr. Swift*.
Indorfed,
" Letter with Bill ;Cioo.
Received March 14, 1713-14."
Wednefday Night,
1 -HAVE heard, that fome honeft men, who are very
innocent, are under trouble, touching a printed
pamphlet. A friend of mine, an obfcure perfon, but
charitable, puts the enclofed bill in your hands, to
anfwer fuch exigencies, as their cafe may immediately
• Thib' letter, written in a counterfeit hand, was fent to Dr.
Sivift, when the printer Morfbeiv was profccuted by the Houfe of
Lords, for Tbi public Spirit of the Whigs : a pamphlet written ia
anfwer to a traft of Sir Richard Steele's, called the Crifts, and pub-
liflied on the fecond oi March, 17 13- 14. All the Scots lords then
in London went to the queen, and complained of the aftront put on
them and iheir nation by the author; upon which, a proclamation
was publiflied by her majefly, offering a reward of three hundred
pounds to difcover him,
require.
t 21 3
require. And I find he will do more, this being
only for the prefent. If this comes fafe to your hands,
it is enough.
LETTER CXir.
A Letter from an Informer to Lord Treasurer,
offering to difcover the Author of the Pamphlet,
called. The public Spirit of the Whigs,
March j8, 1713-14.
-TURSUANT to her majefty's proclamation, of the
fifteenth of this inftant Marchy for difcovering the au-
thor of afalfe, malicious, and fadious libel, intitled,
The public Spirit of the Whigs \ wherein her majefty is
gracioufly pleafed to promife a reward of three hun-
dred pounds, to be paid by your lordfhip ; which
faid difcovery I can make. But your lordfhip, or
fome perfons under your lordfhip, have got fuch an
ill name in paying fuch rewards. Inflance two poor
men, 'viz. John Greenujcod and Jolut Bouch, who
took and brought to juflice fix perfons, vulgarly Mo-
hocks ; which the faid two poor men never received
more than twenty pounds, and the latter thirty ; and
they had no partners concerned with them, as appears
by the attorney-general's reports to your lordfhip ;
which if I fhould be fo ferved, to caufe any perfons
to be punifhed, and be no better rewarded, will be
no encouragement for me to do it ; for thefe two poor
men being fo plain a precedent for me to go by. Your
Jordfliip's mofl humble, and moft obedient fervant,
L. M.
C 3 LET.
t « 1
LETTER CXIir.
Humourous Lines by Lord Treafurer Oxford, fent
to Dr. Swift, Dr. Arbuth not, Mr. Pope,
and Mr. Gay,
April 14, 1714. E^ck Stairs, paft Eight,
Gay
1 N a fummons fo large, which all clergy contains,
I muft turn DifmaPs* convert, or part with my brains.
Should 1 fcruple to quit the back flairs for your blind
ones,
Or refufe your true jun£lo f for one of ■ ■
The following is their anfwer to his lordfhip, chiefly
written by the Dean.
Let not the whigs our tory club rebuke ;
-Give us our earl J, the devil take their duke \\.
^uadam qua attine?:t ad Scribleruvti
Want your affiftance now to clear 'em.
One day it will be no difgrace.
In Scrihkr to have had a place.
Come then, my lord, and take your pai^t in
The important hiftory of Martin.
* Dijmal was lord Nottingham.
■f- Dr. Swift, Dr. yirbutknct, Mr. Pops, and Mr. Gay, were wri-
ting the hiftory of Martirus Soit'aus j and thefe tour wits, ia
r njunflion, are ftiled by lord treafurer a junfto,
% 'Of Oxford.'
|1 •■ Of Marlberougb*
THE
THE DEAN.
A pox on all fenders
For any pretenders.
Who tell us thefe troublefome ftones.
In their dull hum-drum key.
Of arma 'virumque,
HanoniiS qui primus ab oris.
A pox too on Hamner,
Who prates like his gran-mere.
And all his old friends would rebuke.
In fpite of the carle.
Give us but our earl.
The devil may take their duke.
Then come and take part in ;
The memoirs of Martin J
Lay down your white ftaffand grey Ijabit
For trufl: us, friend Mortiinert
Should you live years forty more,
Jlitc olim meminijfe j.u<vabit.
L E T T E R eXIV;
. ,More Line5,,pf HucfiCiUjC, by.^ar^-Tfs^suRER.
Afril 14, 1714.
I HOHOUR the men, Sir,
Who are ready to anfvver,
* The duchy of Hainauh,
C 4 When
t H J
When I a{L them to ftand by the queen j
In fpite of orators.
And blood-thirfty praters,
Whofe hatred I highly efteem.
Let our faith's defender
Keep out ev'ry pretender,
And long enjoy her own ;
Thus you four, five.
May merrily live.
Till fadion is dead as a flone.
LETTER CXV.
The Duchefs of O r m o n d to Dr. S w i f T»
BROTHER*, April 24, 1714.
1 SHOULD fooner have thanked you for your
letter, but that I hoped to have feen you here by this
time, You cannot imagine how much I am grieved,
when I find people I wifh well to, run counter to their
own intereft, and give their enemies fuch advantages,
by being fo hard upon their friends, as to conclude, if
they are not without fault, they are not to be fupport-
cd, or fcarce converfed with. Fortune is a very pretty
gentlewoman; but how foon Ihe may be changed, no
body can tell. Fretting her, with the feeing all fhe
4oes for people only makes them defpife her, may
♦ The duke of Ormcnd was one of the fixteen brothers ; the
^uchefs, therefore, calls Swift brother in her lord's right. See
the note to a letter from loid Harley to the Dean, dated yuly 17,
make
I 25 3
make her fo ficlc as to alter her complexion ; but t
hope our friends will find her conftant, in fpite of all
they do to Ihock her. And remember the * flory of
the arrows, that were very eafily broke fingly ; but
when tied up clofe together, no ftrength of man could
hurt them. But that you may never feel any ill con-
fequences from whatever may happen, are the fincere
wiflies of, brother, yours, with all fifterly afFeftion,
M. O.
♦ In this letter the duchefs alludes to the divifion then fubfifling
among the minifters at court ; and it is probable, that the hint
ebout the ftory of the arrows produced the poem called the faggot,
which the Dean wrote about this time. It is faid, under the tide,
to have been written in the year 17 13, when the queen's minifters
were quarrelling among therafelves. It begins thus j
Obferve the dying father fpeak ;
Try, lads, can you this bundle break ?
Then bids the youngeft of the fix
Take up a heap of well-bound flicks.
They thought it was an old man's maggot.
And flrove by turns to break the faggot.
In vain : the complicated wands
Were much too ftrong for all their hands.
See, faid the fire, how foon 'tis done 1
Then took and broke them one by one.
LET-
c 26 i
L E ITER CXVI.
Chive RTON Charlton, Efq; Captain of the
Yeomen of the Guard, to Dr. Swift.
SIR, May az, 1714,
Hearing from honefl johnny that you ftill per-
fifl: in your refolution of retiring into the country, I
cannot but give you my thoughts of it, at the fame
time that I am fenfible how intruding it may appear
in me to trouble you with what I think: but you have
an unlucky quality, which expofes you to the for-
wardnefs of thofe who love you ; I mean, good na-
ture. From which, though I did not always fufpedl
you guilty of it, I now promife myfelf an eafy par-
don. So that, without being in much pain as to the
cenfure you may pafs upon my aflurance, I fhall go
on gravely to tell you, I am intirely againft your
defign.
I confefs a juft indignation at feveral things, and
particularly as the return your fervices have met with,
may give you a difguft to the court; and that retire-
ment may afford a pleafing profped to you, who
have lived fo long in the hurry, and have borne fo
great a Ihare of the load of bufinefs ; and the more fo
at this junfture, when the diftraftion among your
friends is enough to make any one iick of a courtier's
Jife. But on thefe very accounts, you fliould chufe to
fletp, and convince the world, that you are as much
• Alderman Barbtr*
above
[ 27 ]
above private refentment, where the public Is con-
cerned, as you are incapable of being tired out in the
fervice of your country ; and that you are neither
afraid, nor unwilling, to face a ilorm in a good
caufe.
It is true, you have lefs reafon than any one I know,
to regard what the world fays of you ; for I know
none, to whom the world hath been more unjuft. Yet
fince the moft generous revenge is to make the un-
grateful appear yet more ungrateful, you fhould ftill
perfecute the public with frelh obligations ; and the
rather, becaufe fome there are of a temper to ac-
knowledge benefits ; and it is to be hoped the reft may
not always continue ftupid. At leaft (fuppofe the
worft) the attempt to do good carries along with it a
fecret fatisfaftion, with which if you are not fenfibly
afFefted, I am at a lofs how to account for many of
your adions. I remember very well, what you have
fometimefs faid upon this fubjeft; as if you were now
grown ufelefs, ^'c. To which I have this to anfwer,
that though your efforts are in vain to-day, fome un-
forefeen accident may make them otherwife to-mor-
row ; and that, fhould you by your abfence lofe any
happy opportunity, you will be the firft to reproach
yourfelf v/ith running away, and be the laft man in.
the world to pardon it. If I denied felf-intereft to be
at the bottom of all I have faid, I know you would
think I ly'd villainouOy, and perhaps not think amifs ;
for I ftill flatter myfelf with the continuance of that
favour you have, on many occafions, been pleafed to
ihew me ; and am vain enough to fanfy I fhould be a
3 confider-
[ 28 )
confiderable lofer, if you were where I could not have
an opportunity of clubbing my fhilling with you now
and then at good eating. But as much as I am con-
cerned on this account, I am not fo felfifh to fay what
I have done, if it were not my real opinion ; which,
whether you regard or not, I could not deny myfelf
the fatisfadlion of fpeaking it, and of affuring you,
that I am, with the utmoft fincerity and refpeft. Sir,
your moft obliged, and moft fajthful humble fervant,
CH. CHARLTON.
My lady duchefs *, I can anfwer for her, is very
much your fervant, though I have not her commands
to fay fo. She is gone to fee the duke of Beaufort ^
who is fo ill, 'tis feared he cannot recover. She went
this morning fo early, I have had no particular ac-
count how he is ; but am told, he does nothing but
doze. The melTenger came to her at three in the
morning ; and fhe went away immediately afterwards.
Lady Betty defires me to thank you for your letter,
and would be glad, ftnce the provoft is gracioully
pleafed to flay her majefty's time, to know where it is
he defigns to ftay,
Honeft Toix!nJhend and I have the fatlsfadion to
(drink your health, as often as we do drink together.
Whether you approve of your being toafled with the
bifhop of LoWfl;/, and fuch people, I cannot tell.
My fervant is juft now come from the duchefs of
Ormond, and gives fuch an account of the duke of
Beaufort, that it is thought he cannot pofllbly recover.
• Of Ci-motid, L E T--
C 29 1
LETTER CXVE.
Mr. G A Y to Dr. Swift.
SIR, London, June S, 1714.
O I N C £ you went out of the town, my lord Cla-
rendon was appointed envoy extraordinary to Hano'ver,
in the room of lord Paget ; and by making ufe of thofe
friends, which I entirely owe to you, he hath accepted
me for his fecretary. This day, by appointment, I
met his lordihip at Mr. fecretary Bromley'% office * ;
he then ordered me to be ready by Saturday. I am
quite off from the duchefs oi Monmouth -^ . Mr. Leivis
was very ready to ferve me upon this occafion, as were
Dr. Arbuthnot, and Mr. Ford. I am every day at-
tending my lord treafurer for his bounty, in order to
fet me out ; which he hath promifed me upon the fol-
lowing petition, which I fent him by Dr. Arbuihnotf
The Epigrammatical Petition oi John Gay,
I'm no more to converfe with the fwains.
But go where fine people refort.
One can live without money on plains,
But never without it at court —
If, when with the fwains I did gambol,
I array 'd me in filver and blue ;
When abroad, and in courts I fhall ramble.
Pray, my lord, how much money will do?
• Bromley was joint fecreta'y with Btling^hrciJie.
•f- ' Mr. Gay h d been fecretary, or domeftic flevvard, to the
duchefs, widow cf the d;'ke cf Monmtu'.b, who was beheaded in
the fiift year of king Jama II.'
We
[ 30 J
We had the honour of the treafurer's company lafl
Saturday, when we fat upon Scriblerus*. Pope is in
town, and hath brought with liim the iirft book of
Homer.
I am to be at Mr. LeivzYs this evening with the
provoft f, Mr. Ford, Pume/I, and Pope. It is thought
my lord Clarendon will make but a Ihort flay at Ha^
tto'ver. If it was poffible, that any recommendation
could be procured to make me more diflinguiihed
than ordinary, during my ftay at that court, I Ihould
think myfelf very happy, if you could contrive any
method to profecute it ; for I am told, that their ci-
vilities very rarely defcend fo low as the fecretary. I
have all the reafon in the world to acknowledge this
as wholly owing to you. And the many favours I
have received from you, purely out of your love to
doing good, afTures me you will not forget me in my
abfence. As for myfelf, whether I am at home or
abroad, gratitude will always put me in mind of the
man to whom I owe fo many benefits.
I am your mofl obliged humble fervant,
J. GAY-»
♦ Memoirs of Martlnus Scr'tllerus ; a joint work cf Pope, Af"
hutbtKt, ando'hers. See Pc^^'s works.
•J- • Of Dublin-allege, Dr. Eenjamin Pratt.^
LET-
[ 31 ]
LETTER CXVni.
Mr. John Barber *to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, London, June 8, 1714.
I HAVE inclofed all the letters that have come to
my hands. I faw my lord treafurer to-day, who alked
me where you were gone ? I told his lordfhip you
were in Berkflnre \. He anfwered, it is very well ; I
fiippofe I fhall foon hear from him. My lord Boling-
broks was very merry with me upon your journey, and
hoped th« world would be the better for your retire-
ment, and that I fhould foon be the midwife. The-
fchifm bill was read the fecond time yefterday, and
committed for to-morrow, without a divifion. Every
body is in the greateft confternation at your retire-,
ment, and wonders at the caufe. I tell them, it is
for your health's fake. Mr. Gay is made fecretary to
my lord Clareiuioft, and is very well pleafed with his
promotion. The queen is fo well, that the Siciliaa
• Afterwards alderman, and chofen lord mayor in Sept. 1732.
In 1733 he d;ftinguiflied himfelfin the oppofition to what was called
The Excije Scheme.
■\ S-wift having in vain endeavoured to bring about a reconcilia-
tion between lord Oxford and lord Bolingbroke, retired abaut this
time to the hcufo of a friend, the Rev. Mr. Gerie, at IVantage, in
Berkjhire, who is ftill living. While he was there, he wrote a
difcourfe, called, " Frti thcughn on the present fate of affairs,'*
fnd feut it up to London: but fomc difference of opinion between
him and lord Bolingbroke prevented its publication at that time.
The queen died about ten weeks afierwards, and the difcourfe has
keen fincc printed in bit work*.
ambafladoi'
a
C 3t ]
ItmbaflTador hath his audience to-night. She can walk,
thank God, and is very well recovered.
Sir, your mofl obedient humble fervant,
TYRANT*.
LETTER CXIX.
Dr. Arbuthnot, the Queen's domellic Phyficiari>
to Dr. S w I F Ti
DEAR BROTHER f, St, janies's, June 12, 1714.
X AM glad your proud ftomach is come down, and
that you fubmit to write to your friends. I was of
opinion, that if they managed you right, they might
bring you to be even fond of an article in the PlJI-
Boy, or Flying-Poji, As for the prefent ftate of our
court affairs, I thank God, I am almoft as ignorant as
you are, to my great eafe and comfort. I have never
enquired about any thing, fince my lady Majham told
the dragon J, that fhe would carry no more meflages,
nor meddle nor make, l^c. I don't know whether
things were quite fo bad when you went. The dragon
manages this bill § pretty well, for you know, that is
\i\^ forte : and I believe, at the rate they go on, they
* Alderman Barter made a prefent cf Dr. Swifr'i pi£lure, taken
in the early time of his life, to the univerftty of Oxford.
■f One of the fixteen.
J ' Lord treafurer Oxford.''
§ ' To prevent the growth of fchifm, and for tbt further fecuri'y of
the church «/" England, a% bj liiiu ejiablijked. It pafled the houfc of
lords, Jur,4 13, 1 7 14.*
will
[ 33 ]
will do mifchlef to themfelves, and good to no body
elfe.
You know, that Gay goes to Hanovert and my lord
treafurer has promifed to equip him. Monday is the
day of departure ; and he is now dancing attendance
for money to buy him fhoes, ftockings, and linen.
The duchefs has turned him ofF*, which I am afraid
will make the poor man's condition worfe, inftead of
better.
The dragon was with us on Saturday night laft,
after having fent us really a moft excellent copy of
verfes. I really believe, when he lays down, he will
prove a very good poet. I remember the firll part of
his verfes was complaining of ill ufage ; and at laft
he Concludes,
" He that cares not to rule, will be fure to obey,
** When fummon'd by Arbuthnoty Popey Parnell,
and Gay J*
Tarnell has been thinking of going chaplain to my
lord Clarendon f ; but they will not fay whether he
Ihould or not. I am to meet our club at the Pall-
Mall cofFce-houfe, about one to day, where we can-
not fail to remember you. The queen is in good
health ; much in the fame circumftances with the gen-
tleman I mentioned, in attendance upon her minifters
for fomething fhe cannot obtain. My lord and my
• The d 'ch fs of Monmouth, to whom he had been fecretary.
"f- * Who was fern by the queen to the court uf Hanover,^
Vol. II. D lady
r 34 ]
lady Majham, and lady Fair, remember you kindly ;
and none with more fincere refpedl than your affec-
tionate brother, and humble fervant,
JO, ARBUTHNOT.
LETTER CXX.
Thomas Harley*, Efq; to Dr. Svvxft.
SIR, June 19, 1714.
Your letter gave me a great deal of pleafure. I
do not mean only the fatisfaftion one muft always find
in hearing from fo good a friend, who has diftin-
.guifhed himfelf in the world, and formed a new cha-
rafler, which no body is vain enough to pretend to
imitate. But you muft know, the moment after you
difappeared, I found, it was to no purpofe to be un-
concerned, and to flight (as I really have done) all
the filly ftories and fchemes I met with every day ; the
effefts of felf-conceit, and a frightened, hafty defire
of gain. They alked me, Has not the Dean left the
town ? Is not Dr. S^vift gone into the country ? Yes.
And 1 would have gone into the country too, if I
had not learned, one cannot be hurt, till one turns
one's back : for which reafon, I will go no more on
their errands. But ferioufly, you never heard fuch
bellowing about the town of the ftate of the nation,
efpecially among the fharpers, fellers of bear-lkins f,
'^ This gentleman was coulm to the lord treafurer. He died in
Jan. i-j'iT, and left his eftate to Edivard Harley, Efq;
+ Stock-jobbers. He who fells that, of which he is not pof-
feffed.
[ 35 1
and the reft ofthat kind : nor fiich crying and fqualling
among the ladies ; infomuch that it has at laft reached
the houfe of commons ; which I amforry for, becaufe
it is hot and uneafy fitting there in this feafon of the
year. But I was told to-day, that in fome countries,
people are forced to watch day and night, to keep
wild beafts out of their corn. Do you not pity me,
for yielding to fuch grave fayings, to be ftifled every
day in the houfe of commons ?
When I was out of Englajid, I ufed to receive four or
five letters each poft with this pafTage, " as for what
paffes here, you will be informed by others much
better ; therefore I fhall not trouble you with any thing
of that fort." You will give me leave to ufe it now,
as my excufe to you for not writing news. I hope ho-
neft Gay will be better fupplied by fome friend or other.
Before I received your direflion, I had ordered my
fervant, who comes next Monday out of Herefordjhirey
to leave your horfe at the Crovjn in Farrington, where
you can eafily fend for him. I hear he was fo fat, they
could not travel him till he was taken down ; and I
ordered he Ihould go fliort journeys : he is of a good
breed, and therefore I hope will prove well ; if not, ufe
him like a baftard, and I will chufe another for you.
1 am. Sir, your moft faithful humble fervant,
T. HARLEY.
feffed, is fa^d proverbially to fell the bear's fkin, while the bear
runs in the woods. And it being common for ftock-jobbers t©
make contrafts for transferring ftoclc at a future time, though
they were not poncfTcd of the ftock to be transferred, they were
called fellers of bcar-/kins.
D 2 LET-
r 36 ]
LETTER CXXr.
Mr. Thomas* to Dr. Swift.
REV. SIR, June 22, 1714^
IT was with fome diTculty, that I prevailed with
myfclf to forbear acknowledging your kind letter. I
can only tell you, it Ihall be the bufinefs of my life,
to endeavour to deferve the opinion you exprcfs of
me, and thereby to recommend myfelf to the conti-
nuance of your friendfliip.
My lord treafurer does, upon all occafions, do
juftice to your merit ; and has exprcfled to all his
friends the great efteem he has for fo hearty and ho-
nefl; a friend, and particularly on occafion of the letter
you mention to have lately writ to him. And all his
friends can inform you with what pleafure he commu-
nicated it to them.
And now for bufinefs ; I am to acquaint you, that
laft Thurfday I received the 50/. (which now waits
your orders) and dated your receipt accordingly,
which I delivered to Mr. Whetham, who paid me the
money.
I do not pretend to tell you how matters go. Our
friend fays very bad. I am fanguine enough to hope
not worfe.
lam, with all poflible efteem, ever yours,
WILLIAM THOMAS.
* Secretaryto rd treafurer.
LET.
[ Zl ]
LETTER CXXII.
Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift.
DEAR BROTHER, Kenfington, June26, J714.
1 HAD almoft refolved not to write to you, for fear
of difturbing fo happy a ftate as you defcribe. On
the other hand, a little of the devil, that cannot en-
dure any body fhould enjoy a paradife, almoft pro-
voked me to give you a long and melancholy ftate of
our affairs. For you muft know, that it is ju(l my
own cafe. I have with great induftry endeavoured to
live in ignorance, but at the fame vvould enjoy Ken~
Jington garden ; and then fome bufy difcontented body
or another comes juft crofs me, and begins a difmal
ftory J and before I go to fupper, I am as full of
grievances as the moft knowing of them.
I will plague you a little, by telling you the dragon
dies hard. He is now kicking and cuffing abouc him
like the devil: and you knov/ parliamentary manage-
ment is x\\t forte, but no hopes of any fettlemeat be-
tween the two champions. The dragon faid lall night
to my lady Majham and me, that it is with great in-
duftry he keeps his friends, who are very numerous,
from pulling all to pieces. Gay had a hundred pounds
in due time, and went away a happy man. I have
folicited both lord treafurer and lord BoUngbroke
ftrongly for the Pamelian, and gave them a memorial
the other day. Lord treafurer fpeaks mighty affec-
tionately of him, which you know is an ill fign irj
ecclcfiaftical preferments. Witnefs fome, that you
D 3 and
[ 38 ]
and I know, when the contrary was the beft fign in
the world. Pray remember Martin *, who is an in-
nocent fellow, and will not diilurb your folitude. The
ridicule of medicine is fo copious a fubjedl, that I
muft only here and there touch it. I have made him
ftudy phyfic from the apothecary's bill, where there
is a good plentiful field for a fatyr upon the prefent
practice. One of his projedls was, by a ftamp upon
bliftering plaifters and melilot by the yard, to raife
money for the government, and to give it to RatcUffg
and others to farm. But there was like to be a peti-
tion from the inhabitants of London and WeJlm'^'Jier^
who had no mind to be flead. There was a problem
about the dofes of purging medicines publifhed four
years ago, fhewing, that they ought to be in propor-
tion to the bulk of the patient. From thence Martin
endeavours to determine the queftion about the weight
of the ancient men, by the dofes of phyfic, that were
given them. One of his beft inventions was a map
of difeafes for the three cavities of the body, and one
for the external parts ; juft like the four quarters of
the world. Then the great difeafes are like capital
cities, with their fymptoms all like ftreets andfuburbsj
with the roads, that lead toother difeafes. It is thicker
fet with towns than any Flanders map you ever faw,
Ratcliffe i$ painted at the corner of the map, contend-
ing for the univerfal empire of this world, and the
* Marttnus Scrihlei'us, of whom Pofif A>'bu!hnot, and others,
■'A'ere to write the memoirs,
2 reft
f 39 1
reft of the phyficians oppofing his ambitious defigns,
with a projeft of a treaty of partition to fettle peace. .
There is an excellent fubjeft of ridicule from
fome of the German phyficians, who fet up a fenfitive
foul as a fort of a firft minirter to the rational. Helmont
calls him Archaus. Dolaus calls him Microcoffnetor.
He has under him feveral other genii, that refide in
the particular parts of the body, particularly prince
Cardimelech in the heart ; GaJIeronas in the ftomach ;
and t)\e pi a/lick prince in the organs of generation. I
believe I could make you laugh at the explication of
diftempers from the wars and alliances of thofe
princes ; and how the firft minifter gets the better of
his miftrefs Anima Rat ion alls.
The beft is, that it is making reprifals upon the po-
liticians, who are fure to allegorife all the animal
ceconomy into ftate affairs. Pole has been collefting
high flights of poetry, which are very good ; they are
to be folemn nonfenfe.
I thought upon the following the other day, as I
was going into my coach, the duft being troublefome.
The duft in fmaller particles arofe.
Than thofe, which fluid bodies do compofe :
Contraries in extremes do often meet ;
'Twas now fo dr}'^, that you might call it wet.
I don't give you thefe hints to divert you, but that you
may have your thoughts, and work upon them.
I know you love me heartily, and yet I will not
•wn, that you love me better than I love you. My
D 4 lord
[ 40 3
lord and lady Ma/ham love you too, and read your
letter to me with pleafure. My lady fays ihe will
write to you, whether you write to her or not. Dear
friend, adieu.
LETTER CXXTII.
Mr. John Barber to Dr. Swift.
HONOURED SIR, London, July 6, 1714.
1 HAD yours of the 3d inftant, and am heartily
glad of your being in health, which I hope will con-
tinue. Fray draw what bills you pleafe : I'll pay them
on demand.
I fortunately met lord Bollnghroke yeflerday, the
minute I had your letter. I attacked him for fome
wine, and he immediately ordered you two dozen of
red French wine, and one dozen of ftrong Arizana
white wine. The hamper will be fent to-mor-
row by Robert Stone, the Wantage carrier, and will be
there on Friday. I am afraid it will coft you 5 5. to
George, my lord's butler ; but 1 would do nothing
without order. My lord bid me tell you this morn-
ing, that he will write to you, and let you know, that
as great a philofopher as you are, you have had the
pip ; that the public affairs arc carried on with the
fame zeal and quick difpatch as when you was there ;
nay, that they are improved in feveral particulars ;
that the fame good underftanding continues; that he
hopes the world will be the better for your retirement ;
jhat your inimitable pen was never more wanted than
now J
[ 41 }
now ; and more, which I cannot remember. I be-
lieve he expefts you fhould write to him. He fpoke
many afFcdionate and handfome things in your fa-
vour. I told him your ftory of the fpaniel, which
made him laugh heartily. I am, ^c.
LETTER CXXIV.
Mr. John Barber to Dr. Swift,
SIR, Lambart Hill, July 6, 1714.
1 Thankfully acknowledge the receipt of a packet*
fent laft Sunday. I have fnewn it only to one perfon,
who is charmed with it, and will make feme fmali
alterations and additions to it, with your leave. You
will the eafier give leave, when I tell you, that it ia
one of the beft pens in England. Pray favour me
with a line. 1 am. Sir, your moll obedient fervant,
JOHN BARBER.
Tndorfcd 'bus by the Dean;
" John Barber's letter about the pamphlet."
LETTER CXXV.
Mr. Thomas to Dr. S w i f t.
REV. SIR, Ju'y 6, 1714.
1 SHOULD not have prefumed to break in upon
your retirements, nor fo much as enquire for your ad-
drefs, had not the enclofcd given me a fair occafion
• Probably Free thoughts on tie prefent ftate cf affam,
I to
t 4» ]
to aflc after your health. I need not add any thing to
what the papers will inform you touching that affair.
The perfon mentioned in the baron's letter has not yet
called upon me. When you have indorfed the letter
of attorney, pleafe to return that and the baron's let-
ter, that I may follow his direftions. I dare not
mention any thing of politics to one, that has pur-
pofely withdrawn himfelf from the din of it. I fhall
only tell you, that your friends applaud your condu£l
with relation to your own eafe; but they think it hard
you fhould abdicate at a jundlureyour friendlhip feems
to be of moft ufeto them. I am fure fome of them
want your advice, as well as affiitance. You will
forgive this digrefTion from bufinefs, when I tell you
I Ihall not repeat this trouble, not having fo much as
kept a copy of your direftion. You may direft your
commands to me, undercover, to our common friend.
I hope you believe me too fenfible of obligations to
need formal afiurances of the fmcere refpeft, where-
with I am, reverend Sir, your moft obedient and moll
humble fervant,
WILLIAM THOMAS.
LETTER CXXVI.
Erasmus Lewis, Efq; to Dr. Swift.
SIR, Whitehall, July 6, 1714.
jL OU give me fuch good reafons for your defire of
knowing what becomes of our grand affair, that, to
oblige you, and perhaps to give myfelf vent, I will
tell
[ 43 1
tell you what I think on it. The two ladies * feem to
have determined the fall of the dragon f , and to en-
tertain a chimerical notion, that there fhall be no
Monjieur le Prefiiier, but that all power ihall relide in
one, and profit in the other. The man of Mercury J
foOths them in this notion with great dexterity and
rcafon, for he will be Monjieur ie Premier then of
courfe, by virtue of the little feal. His character is
too bad to carry the great enligns; therefore he takes
another method, and I think it very artful, 'viz. to
continue his prefent ftation, to which the power may
altogether be as properly attached as to the wand. In
this brangle I am no otherwife concerned, than that I
iRuft lofepart of the pleafure I had in the converfation
of my friends. And that I am really apprehenfive the
two ladies may fufFer by the undertaking; for the man
of Mercury's bottom is too narrow, his faults of the
firft magnitude ; and we cannot find, that there is any
fchenie in the world how to proceed. Mercurialis {|
complains, that the dragon § has ufed him barbaroufly ;
that he is in with the democraticals, and never con-
ferred a fingle obligation upon him iince he had the
wand. Le temps nous eclaircira.
I propofe to move on the zd q{ Auguji to Bath, and
to flay there, or go from thence, according as our
chaos fettles here. I believe I ihall not go to Aber-
• The queen and lady Somerfa,
"f- ' Lord treafurer Oxford,'
X ' Loid BcHngbroke.'
\\ ' Lord Bolingbroki,*
\ ' Lord treafurer.*
<aihyf
C 44 ]
I
eathy, otherwife I would attend you. Shall not we
meet at Bath ? Before I began this paragraph, I
ihould have added fomething to the former, which is,
that the dragon is accufed of having betrayed his
friendj yefterday upon the matter of the three expla-
natory articles of the Spanijb treaty of commerce,
which he allowed not to be beneficial, and that the
.:j|ueen might better prefs for their being changed, if
it was the fenfe of the houfe they ought to be fo. The
addrefs then palled without a negative.
I thank you for the account you gave me of the
farm in Buckingham/hire. I could like the thing, and
the price too very well j but when it comes to a point,
I own my weaknefs to you. I can't work myfelf up
to a refolution, whilll I have any hope of the 200/. a
Year I told you of in my own parifh ; it lies now at
fale : if I mifs, 1 would catch greedily at the other.
When I am at the Bath I will fet down the hints
you defire.
LETTER CXXVir.
Charles Ford.*, Efq; to Dr. Swift.
London, July 6 -f-.
IF Barher be not a very great blockhead, I (hall foon
fend you a letter in print, in anfwer to your lali : 1
* This genti.eman was by the Dean's intereft made Ga%etteer%
See the Dean's Jeler to Mrs. Dinghy, dated July i, 1712.
•f The year is omitted, but it llioald be 1714. This letter is
indoried " aftaiis go wcrfe,"
hope
r AS 1
hope it may be next port, for he had It on Suntfay. I
took care to blot the e's out of cnelj/y and the a'e
out oi fcheame, which I fuppofe is the meaning of
your queftion, whether I correded it ? I don't know
any other alteration it wanted ; and I made none ex-
cept in one paragraph, that I changed the prefent to
the part tenfe four times ; and I am not fure I did
right in it neither. Tliere is fo great a tendernefs
and regard all along to the , that I could have
wifhed this expreffion had been out [che uncertain ti-
morous nature of the ]. But there was no
flriking it out without fpoiling the beauty of thepaf-
fage: And as, if I had been the author myfelf, I pre-
ferred beauty to difcretion, I really think it is at leaft
equal to any thing you have writ ; and I dare fay it
will do great fervice as matters ftand at prefent *.
The cc/cWf, and his friends, give the game for.
loft on their fide ; and I believe by next week we
iliall fee lord BoUngbroke at the head of affairs. The
bilhop of Rochejier X is to be lord privy feal. They
talk of feveral other alterations, as that my lord 7/-^-
vor is to be prefident of the council; lord Abingdortt
* It is not known that the Dean publiflied, or was about to pub-
Kfli any thing at this time, except the Free Thoughts. V is there-
fore probable that this traiTt was printing or printed, wlien the
Dean fupprefTcd it fgr the realons mentioned before. The words,
bowcver, which Mr. Ford fays he could have wiflied to have blot-
ted out, bu fpared fur 'he beau'y of the pafiage, are not to be
fount' in the copy printed in the Dean's works j nor is it eafy to
determine where they originally ftood,
f Lord Oxford.
X See Lfw/Vsletter of yf./?;.j? lo, 17 14.
lord
[ 46 J
lord Chamherlain ', lord Anghfey, lord lieutenant of
Ireland \ that Mr. Bromley * is to go out, and a great
many more in leffer employments. I fanfy thefe re-
ports are fpread to draw in as many as they can to op-
pofe the new fcheme. I can hardly think any body
will be turned out of the cabinet, except the trea-
furer and the privy feal f . Perhaps my lord PauletX
may lay down. Certainly the fecretary may continue
in, if he pleafes, and I don't hear that he is difpofed
to refign, or that he is fo attached to any minifler, as
to enter into their refentments. What has "John of
Bucks II done ? and yet the report is very ftrong, that
he is to be fucceeded by my lord 7" or §. The
duke of ShreiAjJbury was one out of eight or nine lords,
that flood by my lord Bolingbroke yeflerday, in the de-
bate about the Spanijh treaty, and fpoke with a good
deal of fpirit. Is it likely he is to be turned out of
all ? The lords have made a reprefentation to the
queen, in which they defire her to fu/mount the in-
furmountable difficulties the SpaniJIj trade lies under
by the laft treaty. It is thought there was a majority
in the houfe to have prevented fuch reflexion upon
the treaty, if they had come to a divifion. The cla-
mour of the merchants, whig and tory, has been too
* Secretary for the northern provinces,
•f- Lord Darimoutb. "
\ Lord fleward.
II * y^hn Sheffield, duke of Bucklngbamjh'ire.''
§ ' Trevor jlaxi chief juftice of the common pleas. He had beea
created lord Trevor of Bromhanz in Bedfordjhire, January j^
1711-lXt*
great
[ 47 ]
great to have paffed a vote in vindication of It, as It
Hands ratified. But my lord Anglefey and his fqua-
dron feemed willing to oppofe any cenfure of it; and
yet this reprefentation was fufFered to pafs nobody
knows how. To-day they are to take into confidera-
tion the queen's anfwer to their addrefs, defiring to
know who advifed her to ratify the explanation of the
three articles. She fent them word fhe thought there
was little difterence between that and what was figned
at Utrecht. When they rife I will tell you what they
have done. The laft money-bill was fent up yefler-
day ; fo that in all probability the parliament will be
up in two or three days, and then we fhall be enter-
tained with court affairs. I hope you got mine lail
poft, and one a fortnight ago. Will the change of
the miniflry affeft Ehvood? He is in pain about it. I
am told the people of Ireland are making a ftrong op-
pofition againft the prefent provoft.
The confideration of the queen's anfwer is deferred
till to-morrow. 1 am now with lord Guildford and
three other commiffioners of trade, who were exa-
mined to-day at the bar of the houfe of lords. They
are prodigioufly pleafed with what has been done. But
I don't underftand it well enough to give you an ac-
count of it. For the rapture ihgy are in hinders
them from explaining themfelves clearly. I can only
gather from their manner of difcourfe, that they are
come off without cenfure.
LET-
m
t 48 ]
LETTER CXXVIir.
Charles Ford, Efq; to Dr. Swift*.
SIR, London, July 10, 1714,
W HAT anfvver fhall I fend ? I am againft any alte-
ration, but additions, I think, ought by no means to
be allowed. I wilh 1 had called fooner at St. Dun-
_fian's ; but I did not expeft it would have come out
fill 'Thurjday, and therefore did not go there till ye-
fierday. Pray let me know what you would have done.
Barber was a blockhead to have fhewed it at all ; but
who can help that ? Write an anfwer either for your-
felf or me; but I beg of you to make no condefcen-
fions*.
Yefterday put an end to the feflion, and to your
pain. We gained a glorious vi£lory at the houfe of
lords the day before : the attack was made immedi-
ately on Arthur Moore f, who appeared at the bar,
with the other commiffioners of trade. The Soui/j-
Sea company had prepared the way for a cenfure, by
voting him guilty of a breach of truft, and incapable
of ferving them in any office for the future. This
paffed without hearing what he had to fay in his de-
fence, and had the ufual fate of fuch unreafonable re-
flexions. Thofe, who propofed the refolutions, were
blamed for their violence ; and the perfon accufed,
* This probably relates to the " Free tboughn''''
•f- < One of the commilTioners of trade and plantations, who wa«
accufed of being bribed by the court of Spain, to favour that king-
dom in the treaty of comir.erce made between it RndErgla^d.'
appearing
[ 49 3
appearing to be lefa guilty than they made him, was
thought to be more innocent than 1 doubt he is. The
whigs propofed two queftions in the houfe of lords
againfl him, and loll both, one by twelve, and the
other, I think, by eighteen votes.
Court affairs go on as they did. The cry is
ftill on the captain?, fide *. Is not he the perfon^ar-
ber means by one of the beft pens in Englatid? It is
only my own conjefture, but I can think of nobody
elfe. Have you the queen's fpeech, the lord's ad-
drefs, ^c. or fhall I fend them to you ? and do you
want a comment ? Have Pop and Parndl been to vi-
fit you, as they intended ?
I had a letter yefterday from Gay, who Is at the
Hague, and prefents his humble fervice to you. He
has writ to Mr. Len.ms too, but his refpefl makes hitn
keep greater diflance with him ; and I think mine is
the pleafanter letter, which I am forry for.
We were alarmed by B. f two days ago : he fent
'J'coke word, our friend was ill in the country ; which
we did not know how to interpret, till he explained it.
It was Mrs. M, X he meant \ but Ihe is in no danger.
Pray, write immediately, that there may be no fur-
ther delay to what we ought to have had a week ago.
• Lord Bclinginkei alluding to his difference with lord Oxford.
See the next 1 tter.
-f- Probably 'Johf: Barbtr,
\ Probably Mrs. Afa«/«y, the writer of the ^/tf/j«m, wha lived
•with Barber at that time, -
Vol. II. E LET^
[ 5® I
LETTER CXXIX.
Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift.
DEAR BROTHER, Kenfington, July lo, 1714.
1 HAVE talked of your affairs to nobody but my
lady Majham. She tells me, that fhe has it very much
at heart, and would gladly do it for her own fake,
and that of her friends ; but thinks it not a fit feafon
to fpeak about it. We are indeed in fuch a ftrangc
condition as to politics, that nobody can tell now
who is for who. It were really worth your while to
be here for four and twenty hours only, to confider the
oddnefs of the fcene. I am fure it would make you
relifh your country life the better.
The dragon holds fall with a dead gripe the little
machine *. If he would have taken but half fo much
pains to have done other things, as he has of late, to
exert himfelf againft the efquire, he might have been
a dragon, inllead of a dagon. I would no more have
fufFered and done what he has, than I would have
fold myfelf to the gallies. Hesc inter 710s. However,
they have got rid of the parliament, and may have
time to think of a fcheme: perhaps they may have
one already. I know nothing, but it is fit to rally
the broken forces under fome head or another. They
really did very well the laft day but one in the hnufc
of lords; but yefterday there were in a flame about
the queen's anfwer, till the queen came in, and put
an end to it.
• His treafurer's ftaff".
The
[ 5» 3
The dragon fliewed me your letter, and feemed
mightily pleafed with it. He has paid ten pounds for
the manufcript, of which I believe there are feveral in
town.
It is a * hillory of the laft invafion of Scotland,
wrote juft as plain^ though not fo well, as another hi-
ftory, which you and I know, with charafters of all
the men now living, the very names and invitation,
that was fent to the pretender. This by a flaming
Jacobite, that wonders all the world are not fo. Per-
haps it may be a whig, that perfonates a Jacobite. I
* This hiftorywas publl/hed about t»n days after; bein'g con-
veyed to the prefs by fomcof the tranfcribing cleiks. The author
laments the mifcarriage of the pretender's expedition to Scotlandf
and hrtes the union, ?.s a bar to the like defigns of France for th"e
future. It is plain enough from the preface, what induced Dr.
Arbuthnot (who had only read the two firft flieets of it in manu-
fcript) to fsy to the Dfan, Ittvas ivrote ai plain, though not fo ivell,
mt another hijioiy, that you and I knozu. He means here. Dr. Sivift'i
hiftory of the peace of Utrecht, which he had then writfen, and
h.'d fhewn to moft of his friends. The Scotch author gives this ac-
count of his ovfn work, in the preface, That ha-virf tifed a little
freedom ivith feveral ferfois of rank and poiver in the charaBers I have
given of them, and in the relation of feveral matters ef faEi j common
prudence requires thefe memoirs Jhould lie dormant, till ftich be out of ca'
pacify to refent the fame either en myfdf or poficrity. From thefe
words it is plain, Dr. Arbuihnot HiA expeifl t j find the charafters of
fome confu'era'ale pcfons of that age drawn' in that work, with
the fame freedom, that he found fome others in the Dean's hi-
ftory ; thougli he well knew, tliat this cbfcure writer was as far
infcri r t5 his fiiend in genius, ns he W2S different in principles,
the Uean having always been f ) firmly attached to the proteftant
fettlement, that he never did, either directly o: indireftly, write,
fir advifc his friends to write, one word in favour of the pretender,
E 2 ftw
r 52 J
two rtieets of the beginning, which was trea^bia
every line. If it goes on at the fame rate of plain-
dealing, it is a very extraordinary piece, and worth
your while to come up to fee it only. Mr. Lockharty
they fay, owns it. Jt is no more his than it is mine.
Do not be fo dogged ; but, after the firft fhower,
come up to town for a week or fo. It is worth your
while. Your friends will be glad to fee you, and
none more than myfelf. Adieu*
LETTER CXXX.
Lord BoLJNGBROKE to Dr. Swift*-
Julyi3, 17 14.
1 NEVER laughed, my dear Dean, at your leaving
the town : on the contrary, I thought the refolutioa
of doing fo, at the time when you took it, a very
wife one. But, I confefs, I laughed, and very hear-
tily too, when I heard, that you aftedled to find,
within the village of Letcotnhe, all your heart de-
lired. In a word, I judged of you, juft as you tell
me in your letter, that I lliould judge. If my grooms
did not live a happier life than I have done this great
while, I am fure they would quit my fervice. Be-
pleafed to apply this refleftion. Indeed, I wifh I
had been with you, with Pope and Pamell, quibus tie-
que animi candidiores. In a little time, perhaps, I may
have leifure to be happy. I continue in the fame
opinions and refolutions as you left me in ; I will
Hand or fall by them.. Adieu. No alteration in my
fortune.
I 53 3
•fortune, or circumftances, can alter tliat fmcere
friendship, with which I am, dear Dean, yours.
I fanfy you will have a vifit from that great poli-
dcian and cafuift the duke *. He is at Oxford, with
Mx. Clarke '^.
LETTER CXXXI.
Erasmus Lewis, Efij; to Dr. Swift.
July 17, 1714.
1 AM forry to find by thofe, that have frefher ad-
vices from you, than yours of the eleventh inftant to
me, that Far-vi/oVs % conduft puts you under a ne-
ceffity of changing the adminiftration ; for it will
probably draw you to Ireland, whether you will or no.
However, I hope to fee you at Bath three weeks
hence, whatever happens. I meet with no man or
woman, who pretend upon any probable grounds to
judge who will carry the great point. [Aj Our fe-
male friend told the [Bj dragon, in her own houfe,
* Perhap"; the duke of Onnovd,
■f- Gctri^e Clarke, dilorof liws, -fellow of A^.' Souls, who had
been fecrctzry to p'ince George of Dermark, z% lord high admiral^
and vv-a' m niber of parliamcflt for t!ie univerfuy of Oxford-
J Par-T/i d Wis the Dean's ag^nt Jn L eland The Dean's ohfcrva-
tions on the ames marked A, B, C, z.re ihus written on the blank
part of the original letter. [A] Mrs. Majb.rm, -v.'ho was tlie
queen's fav 'iirite, fell out in a rage, reproaching lord Oxford very
injuriudy. [BJ ihe dragon, lo d t'-e.ifurer Oxford, fo called by
the Dean by contraries; f.r he was the mildeft, wifeft, and bctl
wiiinfte , ihat ever fervcd a prince. [CJ Lord BiHrglircke, calkd
io by Mr. Leruii,
E \ laft
C 54 1
laft 'thurfday morning thefe words : You never did the
queen any fermice, nor are you capable of doing her ajiy.
He made no reply, but fupped with her and [CJ
Mercurialis, that night, at her own houfe. His re-
venge is not the lefs meditated for that. He tells the
words clearly and diftinflly to all mankind. Thofe,
who range under his banner, call her ten thoufand
bitches and kitchen-wenches. Thofe, who hate him,
do the fame. And from my heart I grieve, that fhe
ihould give fuch a loofe to her paffion ; for fhe is fuf-
ceptible of true friendlhip, and has many fociabic
and domeftic virtues. The great attorney *, who
made you the fliam offer of the York/hire living, had
a long conference with the dragon on Thurfday, kiffed
Mm at parting, and curfed him at night. He went
to the country yefterday ; from whence, fome con-
jefture, nothing coniiderable will be done foon. Lord
Harley f, and lady Harriot J, went this morning to
Oxford. He has finifhed all matters with lord Pd-
ham II, as far as can be done without an aft of parlia-
ment. The compofition was figned by the auditor,
and Naylor, brother-in-law to Felham. This day fe'n-
jiight lord Harley is to have the whole Ca-vendijh eftate,
which is valued at ten thoufand pounds per annum, and
has upon it forty thoufand pounds worth of timber.
But three of this ten thoufand pounds a year he ha4
l^y the will. He remits to lord Pelbam the twenty
« Perhaps Jord chancellor Harcourt.
•{• * Ediuard, fon to the lord tieafurcr Oxford,^
\ ' Wife of lord Harley.''
j{ ' The prefent duke of Nczvcaf.'e.^
;: ^ ■: ' thoufanft'
( 55 ]
thoufand pounds charged for lady Harriotts fortune
on the Holies eftate ; and gives him feme patches of
Jand, that lie convenient to hioi, to the value of
about twenty thoufand pounds more. According to
my computation, lord Harley gets by the agreement
(if the timber is worth forty thoufand pounds) one hun-
dred and forty thoufand pounds ; and when the join-
tures fall in to him, will have fixteen thoufand pounds
a year. But the cant is, twenty-fix thoufand pounds.
Lord Pelham will really have twenty-fix thoufand
pounds a year from the Ne'-wcafile family, which, with
his paternal eftate, will be twice as much as lord
Harley %. The eltate of the latter is judged to be in
the beft condition ; and fome vain-glorious friends of
ours fay, it is worth more than the other's; but let
that pafs. Adieu.
LETTER CXXXIL
Lord Harley to Dr. Swift.
BROTHER SWIFT*, July 17, J714.
I O UR fifter 4 has at laft got rid of her lawyers.
We are juft fitting out for Oxford, where we hope to
(ee you. I am your afFedionate brother,
HARLEY.
* A company of fixtcei, all men of the firft clafs, Sio'ift'xn-'
eluded; dintd once a week at the houfe of each other, by rorac
tion, and went under the general denomination of brothers. The
number was afterwards cnlarjjed, and they dined at a tavern every
1'hurjday. Lord lla-ky was one, which accounts for the addrefs
; pf this letter.
\ Lady Henrietta Harley, wife of lord Harley.
\i j^ LET-
[ 5^ I
LETTER CXXXIIL
Dr. A R B u T K N 0 T to Dr. S w i f t.
DEAR BROTHER, London, Ju'y 17, 1714.
I THOUGHT it necelTary to fp-eak to lady M«/««
about that affair, becaufe I believe it will be iiecef-
fary to give her majefty the fame notion of it, which
the memorial does *, and not that you are aflcing a
little fcandalous falary for a finecure. Lewis defpairs
of it, and thinks it quite over fince a certain affair. I
will not think fo. I gave your letter, with the in-
clofed memorial ca^iaUerment, to lord Bclingbroke. He
read it, and feemed concerned at fome part of it, ex-
preffing himfelf thus; That it 'would be amongfi the
eternal jcandals 'of the gov eminent to fuffer a man of jour
charatlcr, that had fo n.vcll deferred of them, to hwve
the liaft iineafy thought about thofe inatiers. As to the
£fty pounds, he was ready to pay it; and, if he
had had it about him, would have given it me. The
dragon was all the while walking with the duke of
Shreiufiiiry . So my lord Bolinghroke told me, / nuould
immediately Jiir in this matter, hut I knoiv 7tot hovj I
Jiand 'v:itb fome folks ; (for the duke of Shrenx>fbury has
taken himfelf to the dragon in appearance.) / kno^o
honv- I fund ^th that mat} (pointing to the dragon.)
But as to the other, I cannot tell; however, I will
claim his promife : «^nd fo he took the memorial.
* A memorial to the cueen, humbly defiring hermajefty to ap-
point him hiftoriographer. Set SiuijVs letter to Mils Fanhowrigh,
in this coiledlion, dated ^^^k/? 1, 17 14.
[ 57 1
Do not think I make you bare a compliment in
V/hat I am going to fay ; for I can afiure you I am in
earneft. I am in hopes to have two hundred pounds
before I go out of town, and you may command all
or any part of it you pleafe, as long as you have oc-
cafion for it. I know what you will fay; To fee a
fcoundf el pretend to offer to lend me money. Our fituation
at prefent is in ftiort thus : they have roinpu en 'vijiere
with the dragon, and yet don't know how to do with-
out him. My lady Mafjam has in a manner bid him
defiance, without any fcheme or likenefs of it in any
form or fliape, as far as I can fee. Notwichftanding
he vifits, cringes, flatters, ^c. which is beyond my
comprehenfion.
I have a very comical account of Letcomhe, and the
dean of St. Patrick^s, from Pope, with an epifode of
the burning-glafs. I was going to make an epigram
upon the imagination of your burning your own lii-
ftory with a burning-glafs. I wilh Pope or Parnell
would put it into rhyme. The thought is this : Apollo
fpeaks, ' That fince he had infpired you to reveal
* thofe things, which were hid, even from his own
* light, fuch as the feeble fprings of fome great
* events; and perceiving that a fadlion, who could
* not bear their deeds to be brought to light, had
* condemned it to an ignominious flame ; that it
* might not perifh fo, he was refolved to confume it
* with his own ; a celeftial one.' And then you mull:
conclude with fome fimile; thus, ^f. There are
two or three that will fit it.
3 Whijion
i 5« ]
Whlfion has at laft publilhed his projeft of the lon-
gitude ; the moft ridiculous thing, that ever was
thought on. Sut a pox on him ! he has fpoiled one
of my papers of ^criblerus, which was a propofarfor
the longitude, not very unlike his, to this purpofe ;
that fince there wa? no pole for eaft and weft, that all
the princes oi Europe fhould join and build two pro-
digious poles, upon high mountains, with a vaft
light houfe to ferve for a pole-ftar. I was thinking
of a calculation of the time, charges, and dimenfions.
Now you muft underftand, his projed is by light-
houfes, andexplofion of bombs at a certain hour.
Leavis invited me to dinner to-day, and has difap-
pointed me. I thought to have faid fomething more
about you. 1 have nothing more to add, but, my
dear friend, adieu.
LETTER CXXXIV.
Charles Ford, Efq; to Dr. Swift.
London, July 20, 1714.
W HO would ever do any thing for them, when"
they are fo negligent of their own intereft? The cap-
tain muft fee, what ufe it would be to him to have it
publiftied, aijd yet he has not returned it. You have
another copy by you ; 1 wifti you would fend it ; and
if you don't care it fhould appear in your own hand,
I will get it tranfcribed. My fecretary is a boy of
ten or eleven years old, and no difcovery can be made
hy him. I don't know what my lord Bolingbroke may
do.
[ 59 1
do, but I dare fay Barber does not fufpeft froni
whence it comes. However, 1 wonder he has not
mentioned it to you *.
I thought you had heard the hiflorlographer's place
jias been difpofed of this fortnight. I know no more
of him who has it, than that his name is Maddocks^c
It would be impudence in them to fend for you, but
I hope you will come. A reconcilement is impofli-
ble ; and I can guefs no reafon why matters are de-
layed, unlefs it be to gain over fome lords, who
flick firm to the dragon, and others that are averfe to
the captain |. The duke of Skre-vujhury declares againft
him in private conyerfation ; I fuppofs becaufe he it
againfl every chief minifter, for it is known he has hq
kindnefs for the colonel\\. Lord Anglefey rails at the
chancellor, for fome opinion the attorney and folli-
citor general have given relating to Ireland. Who
can aft, when they have fo much caprice to deal
with }
Mr. Levois fays, he will fpeak to Mr. Bromley for
his part, and will engage it fhall be paid as foon at
lord Bdinghroke has given his. But it was mentioned
before my lord treafurer, and he immediately took
the whole upon himfelf. If they lived near one ano-
ther, and a houfe between them was on fire, I fanfy
they would contend who fhould put it out, until the
v/hole ftreet were burned. Mr.Z^awV goes into Wale$
* This relates to the Tree Theughttt
■}■ Thomas Maddocks, Efqj
\ L'.rd Bolinghroke,
li Lord Oxford,
the
i 60 1
the week after next. I fliall have the wh ;le town to
iTiyfelf. Now it is my own, I begin not to value it.
Pope and Parnell tell me, you defign them a vifit.
When do you go ? If you are with them in the middle
of a week, I Ihould be glad to meet you there. Let
me know wl>3re you are to be in Herefordjhire., and I
will fend you fome claret. It is no compliment, for
I am overftocked, and it will decay before I drink it.
You lliall have either old or new j I have too much of
both.
Pray fend me the other copy *, or put me in a way
^f recovering the former.
Z am, l£c.
LETTER CXXXV.
Erasmus Lewis, Efq; to Dr. Swift.
S I R, Whitehall, July 22, 1714.
1 RECEIVED a letter from you lad Monday, for my
lord treafurei", in a blank cover. Lall Friday lord
chancellxnr went iato the country, with a defign to Hay
there till the tenth oi Au^uji-^ .but lall Tuejday he was
ient for exprefs by lord Boli7!;^hroke. Next Turjaay the
queen goes lo Wind/or. What changes we are 10 have,
will probably appear before flie goes. Dr. Arbuthnot
dines with me to-day, and in the evening we go t©
Kt:nJir.gton.
* O'ixYizFnel.la-ughtt,
LET-
[ 6i ]
LETTER CXXXVI*.
The Duke of O a m o n d f to Dr. Swift.
SIR, July 22, 1714.
1am very glad to hear fiom you. I thought yoa
had hid yourfelf from the world X, and given over all
thoughts of your friends. I am very forry for the
reafon of your retirement. I am a witnefs tayour en-
deavours to have made up, what I believe the great
man you mention will hardly compafs. I am of your
opinion, that it is fharaeful, that the vacant biHiopriGS
are not difpofod of. I fhall do aU that lies in my
power to ferve the gentlemen that I have already men~
tioned to the queen, and hope v/ith good fuccefs.
For the lady you mention i|, I fball endeavour to
fee her as often as I can. She is one, that I have a
great elleem for. I fend you feme Burgu^a^, which
I hope yoa will like. It is very good to cure the
fpleen. £elieve me, with great truth. Sir, yourmoft
affeftionate friend, and humble fervant,
O R M O N D.
* See the Ltter, to which this is an anrwcr, in the volumes
juft publifhed by Mr. Deane Szvift.
■j- He was appointed lord li::utenant oi Ireland in the yeai' 1710,
He fucceedjd the duke oi Marlborough in '.he command of the arm/,
and his duchefs was lady of the bedch '.mber.
J He was now retired into Buckingham/hire,
\ Lady Mafham.
LET.
C 61 I
LETTER CXXXVIL
Charles Ford, E%; to Dr. S w i f f ,
London, July az, 1714.
x RAY fend me the other copy, and let us have the
benefit of It, fince you have l>een at the trouble of
writing. Unlefs * be ferved againft his will,
it is not like to be done at all ; but I think you ufed
to take a pleafure in good offices of that kind ; and I
hope you won't let the caufe fufFer ; though I muft
own, in this particular, the perfon who has the ma-
nagement of it does not deferve any favour. Nothing
being left for me at St. Dimjian^s, I fent to B- f
for an anfwer to my laft. He fays, it is not yet re-
flored to him ; as foon as It is, I fhall have it. This
delay begins to make me think all minilkrs are alike ;
and as foon as the captain is a colonel, he will a£l as
his predecelTors have done.
The queen goes to Wind/or next Tuefday, and we ex-
peft all matters will be fettled before that time. We
have had a report, that my lord privy feal is to go out
alone ; but the learned only laugh at it. The cap-
tahih X friends think themfelves fecure ; and the colo-
nel's II are fo much of the fame opinion, that they only
drink his health while he is yet alive. However, it
is thought he will fall eafy, with a penfion of four
* • This blank fhoulJ probably be filled up with the word trea'
Jurer, or Oxford.''
\ Barber, % BoUngbrohe:, jj Oxford,
thoufand
thoufand pounds a year, and a dukedom. Moft of
the ftaunch tories are pleafed with the alteration ; and
the whimficals pretend, the caufe of their difguH was,
becaufe the whiQ-s were too much favoured.
In fliort, we propofe very happy days to ourfeh'CS, '
as long as this reign lafts ; and if the uncertain ti-
morous nature of does not difappoint us, we
have a very fair profpe^t. The dragon and his anta-
gonift * meet every day at the cabinet. They often
€at, and drink, and walk together, as if there was
no fort of difagreement : and when they part, I hear
they give one another fuch names, as nobody but mi-
nifters of llate could bear, without cutting throats.
The duke of Marlborough is expeded here zxtxy day.
Dr. Garth fays, he only comes to drink the Brijiol
waters, for a diabetes. The whigs are making great
preparations to receive him. But yefterday I was of-
fered confiderable odds, that not one of thofe, who
go out to meet him, will vifit him in half a year. I
durll not lay, though I can hardly think it. My lord
Marr is married to lady Frances Picrrepoint ; and my
lord Dorchejier, her father, is to be married next
week to lady Bel. Bentinck. Let me know if you go
to Pope'^t that I may endeavour to meet you there ?
I am, \£c.
* Bol'mghroh,
LET-
t H 1
LETTER CXXXVIII.
Charles Ford, Efq; to Dr. Swift.,
London, July 24, 1714.
VY E expe£led the grand affair would have been done
yefterday, and now every body agrees it will be to-
night *. The bifhop of London, lord Bathurjl, Mr.
Bridges, Sir William Wyndham^ and Campion, are
named for commiffioners of the treafury ; but I have
not fufficient authority for you to depend upon it.
They talk of the duke of Ormond for our lord lieute-
nant. I cannot get the pamphlet back f . What fhall
I do ? I wifh you would fend me the other copy.
My lord Anglefey goes next Monday to Ireland. I hear
he is only angry with the chancellor, and not at all
with the captain. I am, ^c.
LETTER CXXXIX.
Erasmus Lewis, Efq; to Dr. Swift.
Whitehall, July 24, 17 14.
I SAW lord Harley this morning. He tells me,
that he left you horridly in the dumps. I wifh you
were ; for, after giving a quarter of an hour's vent
to our grief for the departure of our Don ^dxote |, we
* The difmiflion of lord Oxford,
■J- Free Thoughts.
X Lord Oxford, who was juft at this time difmifled from his em«
floyment as firft minifter, and immediately fucceeded by led Bo=
liii'ibroke.
t 65 ]
fhould recover ourfelves, and receive confolatlon from
each other. Tlie triumph of the enemy makes me
mad. I feel a ftrange tendemefs within myfelf, and
fcarce bear the thoughts of dating letters from this
place, when my old friend is out, whofe fortune I
have (hared for fo many years. But Jiat ^olunfas tua.
The damned thing is, we are to do all dirty work.
We are to turn out Monckton *. And, I hear, we are
to pafs the new commiifion of the treafury. For God's
fake write to lady Majham, in favour of poor Thomas \,
to preferve him from ruin. I will fecond it. I in-
tended to have wrote to you a long letter ; but the
moment I had turned this page, I had iatelligence
that the dragon had broke out into a fiery pafTion with
I'lnglroh, On TueJJay the twenty-feventh cf the fam- month he
furrendered h s ftafF as hrd t eafurer, and on the thirtieth lord
Shreivjbuiy was appoii.ted to fucceed him in that office. See the
letter from Mr. Ford, dated Jyly 31 ; and an enquiry -nto the be-
haviour of 'he queen's laft miniftry, in the volumes publiflied by
Mr. Deme Swift.
* Robert Monckton, one of the commiflioners for trade and plan-
tations, who had given information againft Arthur Moore, one of
his brother commiflioners, for accepting a bribe frcoi the Spanijh
ccurr, to get the treaty of commerce continued.
•f Mr. Thomas had been fecretary under the old commiffion of
the treafury, and he wrote to the Dean, by the fame poft, for a
reccmmenda.ion to lady Majham, either to be continued in the
fame office under the new commifli.'ners, or to be confidered in
fome other manner, by way of compenfation. He urges a pre-
cedent for this in the cafe of his predecefTor, who, being re-
moved from his port of fecretary, got the office of comptroller of
the lotteries, wo; th five hundred pounds /ifr <jw««w, for thirty-two
years.
Vol. n. F my
[ 66 ]
my lord chancellor *, and fwore a thoufand oaths he
would be revenged of him. This impotent, woman-
ifh behaviour vexes me more than his being out. This
Jaft ftroke ftiews, ^antiila Jlnt homimim corpiifcula. I
am determined for the Bath, on the fecond or the ninth
of Augujl at fartheft.
LETTER CXL.
Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift,
DEAR BROTHER, July 2^, 1714:.
1 SUPPOSE you have received the account of -$■#.
K'tlda. There Is an officer there, who Is a fort oi iri-
hunus plehisy whofe office it Is to reprefent the griev-
ances of the people to the \a\r<l o( M' Leo J, who is
fuppofed to be their cppreffor. He is bound to con-
tradiifl the laird, till he gives him three ftrokes with
a cane over the head, and then he Is at liberty to
fubmit. This I have done, and fo has your friend
Lfwis. It has been faid, that we and the Dean were
the authors of all that has fince happened, by keeping-
the dragon in, when there was an offer to lay down.
I was told to my fsce, that what I fald in this cafe
went for nothing ; that I did not care, if the great
perfon's affairs went to entire ruin, fo I could fupport
the interefts of the dragon. That I did not know the
Iialf of his proceedings. Particularly it was faid,
though I am confident it was a miftake, that he had
^ • Lord Ha'-(*urt,
aitemptei
[ 67 ]
attempted the removing her from the favour of a
great perfon. In fhort, the fall of the dragon does
not proceed altogether from his old friend, but from
the great perfon, whom I perceive to be highly of-
fended, by little hints that I have received. In fliort,
the dragon has been fo ill ufed, and muft ferve upon
fiich terms for the future, if he fhould, that I fvvear I
would not advife Turk., Jciv, nor infidel, to be in
that ftate. Come up to town, and I' can tell you
more. I have been but indifferently treated myfelf,
by fomebody at court in fmall concerns. I can tel!
who it is. But mum for that. Adieu.
LETTER CXLI.
The Earl of O x f o r d to Dr. Swift.
July 27, I7I4*.
1 F I tell my dear friend the value I put upon his un-
deferved friendlTiip, it will look like fufpefting you or
myfelf Though I have had no power fince the twenty-
fifthofy«/y, I7i3t, I believe now, as a private man,
I may prevail to renew your licence of abfence, con-
ditionally you will be prefent with me ; for to-mor-
'» < Jiifl: before the lofs of his flaft".'
■\ < The carl of Oxford, in Wis. Brief Account cf Public Affairs,
prefented to the qoeen, on the ninth of ya;ic, 1714, and publiflied
in the Rejjort of the Secret ComnUtee, mentions, that he wrote a
large letter, dated ya/y 25, 1713, to lord Bolingbroke, " ccntain-
" ing his fcheme of the queen's affairs, and what was ne.-cfTiry
" for lord Bolingbroke to do ;'* which letter was anfwcred ly that
io.d, on the twenty- feventh of that month.*
F 2 row
[ 68 ]
tcy^r morning I fliall be a private perfon. When I
have fettled my domeilic afi"airs here, I go to Wimple ;
thence, alone, to Herefordf/nre. If I have not tired
you, tete a tete, fling away fo much time upon one,
who loves you. And I believe, in the mafs of fouls
ours were placed near each other. I fend you an,
imitation of Dryden, as I went to Kcnfington.
To ferve with love.
And ihed your blood.
Approved is above.
But here below,
Th' examples fhew,
'Tis fatal to be pood.
O
LETTER CXLII.
Erasmus Lewis, Efq; to Dr. Swift.
SIR, "Whitehall, July 27, 1714.
1 HAVE yours of the twenty-fifth. You judge-
very right ; it is not the going out, but the manner,
that enrages me. The queen has told all the lords
the reafons of her parting with him, mix., that he
negle£led all bufinefs ; that he was feldom to be un-
derllood ; that when he did explain himfelf, fhe could
not depend upon the truth of what he faid ; that he
never came to her at the time fhe appointed"; that,
lailly, to crown all, he behaved himfelf towards her
with bad manners, indecency, and difrefpecl. Piidct
htvc cpprobria nohisy
I am
t ^9 )
i am diftraried with the thoughts of this, and the
jiride of the conqueror *. I would give the world I
could go out of town to-morrow; but the fecretary
faith, I muft not go till he returns, which will not
be till the fixteenth of Augujl, or perhaps the twenty-
third ; but I am in hopes I may go towards Bath the
■fifteenth.
The runners are already employed to go to all the
ccfFee-houfes. They rail to the pit of hell. 1 am
ready to burft for want of vent. The f ftick is yet in
his hand, becaufe they cannot agree who fhall be the
new commiffioners. We fuppofe the blow will be
given to-night, or to-morrow morning. The fterility
of good and able men is incredible. When the mat-
ter is over, I will wait upon our Ihe friend %. If ihe
receives me as ufual, I'll propofe to her, that I will
ferve where I do, provided I may be countenanced,
and at full liberty to pay my duty to all the Harlelan
family in the fame manner I uf$d to do. If that is
not allowed me in the utmoft extent, confiftent with
• Lord Be'ingbrolf.
\ On the night of TuefJay, July 27, the day <^n wliich this let-
iter is dated, a cabinet council was held (after the earl of Oxford
had refigned tiie flaff, which he d'd on that day) to confult what
perfons to be put in commiffion for ths management of the trea-
fliry. The number to be •five. Sir William IVyndhain, chancellor
of the exchequer, was to be one ; but they cculd not agree in the
choice of the othsr four. Their debate about the matter lafted
till near two o'clock in the morning, at which the queen being
prefent, it raifcd a violent agitation in her fpirits, v.hich a&'e£l<4
her head. *
X Lady Majl-am,
F 3 my
C 70 ]
my trull here, I will propofe an employment in the
revenues, or to go out without any thing ; for I will
not be debarred going to him. If Ihe does not receive
me as fhe ufed to do, I will never go again. I flatter
myfelf flie will be fo friendly as to enter into the
confideration of my private circumftances, and pre-
ferve her old goodnefs to me.
There is no feeing the dragon till he is out, and
then I will know his thoughts about your coming to
Brampton . I hear he goes out of town inflantly to
Wimple, and my lady \.o Brampton ; that he will join
her there, after a few days flay at Wimple. Adieu,
I am yours, l^c.
LETTER CXLIir.
Lady M A s H A M * to Dr. Swift.
MY GOOD FRIEND, Ju'y 29, 1714.
1 OWN it looks unkind in me not to thank you,
in all this time, for your lincere kind letter ; but 1
was refolved to fray till I could tell you the queen had
got fo far the better of the dragon, as to take her
power out of his hands. He has been the moll un-
grateful man to her, and to all his befl friends, that
ever was born. I cannot have fo much time now to
write all my mind, becaufc my dear millrefs is not
* This laly's name was Hill. She was bedchamber- woman to
the queen, and, in conjunclion with Mr. Harley, afterwards earl
of Oxford, brought about the change in the miniftry. See the
tio't to 2 letter f.om lo;d and \^iy M^fiam, dated ./^nV 1 7, 1733.
well.
f 71 ]
Nvell, nnd I think I may lay her illnefs to the charge
of the treafurer, who, for three weeks together, was
teazing and vexing her without intermiffion, and (he
could not get rid of him till Tuefday lalL I mufl: put
you in mind of one paflage in your letter to me,
which is, / pray God Jcnd you ivi/e and faithful friends
to ad-vife you at this time, <when there are fo great diffi-
culties to Jlruggle vjiith. That is very plain and true ;
therefore will you, who have gone through fo much,
and taken more pains than any body, and given wife
advice (if that wretched man had had fenfe enough
and honefty to have taken it) ; I fay, will you leave
us, and go into Irelatid F No, it is impoffible ; your
goodncfs is Hill the fame, your charity and compaffion
for this poor lady, who has been barbaroufly ufed,
won't let you do it. I know you take delight to help
the diftreiTed ; and there cannot be a greater objeft
than this good lady, who deferves pity. Pray, dear
friend, ftay here ; and don't believe us all alike, to
throw away good advice, and defpife every body's un»
derftanding but their own. I could fay a great deal
upon the fubjeft, but I muft go to her, for Ihe is not
well. This comes to you by a fafe hand, fo that
neither of us need be in any pain about it. . ^,
My lord and brother are in the country. My filler,
and girls are your humble fervants.
F 4 LET-
C 70
LETTER CXLIV.
Erasmus Lewis, Ef(j; to Dr. Swift,
SIR. Ju'yzg, 1714.
1 HAVE yours of the twenty-feventh. I write this
in the morning, for I go in the evening to KenJIngton.
If 1 am well received, I will continue my homage;
if not, they fhall hear of me no more. Where fhall
I write to you again ? for I cannot ftir from hence till
the fixteenth oi 4"g"Ji at fooneft. Nothing could
pleafe me more than to pafs a few months with you at
Abercathy * ; but I am yet uncertain whether I fhall go
there at all. All I am fure of is, that 1 will go out
of town to fome place for fome time ; firft to the Bath,
for I can't bear flaying in this room. I want phyfic to
help my digeftion of thefe things, though the 'fquiref
is kinder to me than before. I am not mortified at
what you tell of Mercurialis ; only I would know,
whether any difrefpeftful condudl of mine has brought
it upon me ; or whether it is only a general diflike of
me, becaufe I not a man of parts, or becaufe I am in
Other interefts. They would not give the dragon the
leaft quarter, excepting only a penfion, if he will
work journey-work by the quarter. I have long
thought his parts accufed, and am more of that opi-
nion than ever. The new commiffion is not yet named.
Would not the world have roared againfl the dragon
* ' In Caermartbenjhire, of which county Mr. i«wM was a na-
tive.'
•|" ' JVilliam Brcm^ey, Efqj fecretary of fiatc'
fpr
[73l
for fuch a thing ? Mercurialis entertained Stanhoptt
Craggs, Pulteney, and Walpole. What if the dragon
had done fo ? The duke of Somerfet dines to-day with
the fraternity, at Grernivich, with Withers. Nobody
goes out with ihft dragon; but many will fit very loofe.
Some fay, the new men will be Lexington, Wyndhama
Sirange-u^ajs, Sir yohfi Stonehoufe, and Campiotu
LETTER CXLV.
Mr. John Barber to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, July3i, 1714. Pa ft Six at Night.
1 AM heartily forry I fhould be the meffenger of fo
ill news, as to tell you the queen is dead, or dying:
if alive, 'tis faid, flie can't live till morning. You
may eafily imagine the confulion we are all in on this
fad occafion. I had fet out yefterday to wait on you,
but for this fad accident, and fhould have brought
letters from lord Bdinghroke, and lady Mafiam, to
have prevented your going. Pray don't go, for I will
come to you when I fee how things ftand. My lord
Shri'wjbury is made lord treafurer, and every thing is
ready for the proclaiming the duke of Brunfnxiick king
oi England. The parliament will fit to-morrow, and
chufe a new fpeaker, for Sir T'homas * is in Wales.
For God's fake don't so ; but either come to Lon-
don, or ftay till I come to you. I am, iSc.
* ' Har.ir.er.^
LET-
[ 74]
LETTER CXLVI.
Erasmus Lewis, Efq; to Dr. S w i f r.
SIR, Kenfington, Saturday, July 3I> 1714.
Six in ihe Lvening.
/i-T the time I am writing, the breath is faid to be
in the queen's roftrils ; but that is all. No hope left
cf her recovery. Lord Oxford is in council ; fo are the
whigs. We expeft the demife to-night. There is a
profpeft, that the eleftor will meet with no oppofi-
fition ; the French having no fiect, nor being able to
put one out foon. Lady MaJIjain did receive me
kindly. Poor woman, I heartily pity her. Now is
not the dragon born under a happy planet, to be out
of the fcrape ? Dr. Arbuthnot thinks you fhould come
up. Yoa v.'ill not wonder, if all my country refolur
tions are in fufpence. Pray come up, to fee how
things go.
LETTER CXLVII.
C H .4 R L E s Ford, Efq; to Dr. Swift.
London, Ju'y 31, 17 14. Th-ee in the Afternoon.
i- DON'T doubt but you have heard the queen is
dead, and perhaps we may be fo unfortunate before
this comes to you ; but at prcf;nt Ihe is alive, and
much better than could have been expcfled. I am
juft come from Kenjin^ton, where 1 have almoll fpent
thefe two whole days. I am in great halle ; but, till
dinner
E 75 ]
dinner cOmes up, I will write to you, and give you as
full an account as 1 can of her illnefs.
Her diforder began between eight and nine yefter-
day morning. The dcdtors ordered her head to be
Ihaved ; and while it was dcing, fhe fell into a fit of
the convulfion, or, as they thought, an apoplexy. This
lafted near two hours, and ihe was fpeechlefs, and
fhewed little fign of life during that time ; but came
toherfelf on being blooded.
As foon as (he recovered, my lord BoUngbrohe went
to her, and told her the privy-council was of opinion,
it would be for the public fervice to have the duke of
Shren-v/biiry made lord treafurer. She immediately
confented, and gave the ftafl" into the duke's hands.
■ The great feal was put to the patent by four o'clock.
She continued ill the whole dav. In the cvenine I
fpoke to Dr. Arlnthnot, and he told me, he did not
think her diftcmpcr was defperate. Raddiffe v/as fent
for to Carjhaltcn about neon, by order of council ;
but faii he had taken phylic, and could not com.e. In
all probability he had laved her life, for I am told tiie
late lord Gc-zver had been often in the fame condition
with the gout in his head ; and RcdcUffe kept him alive
many years after *. This morning, when I went there
* In the acrount, that is given of Dr. Raddiffe, in the Bico-ra-
fbia Britar.nica, it is faid, that the queen \\as^iu:k wirb deasb the
ttver.ty eighth of July : that Dr. Radilffc s name was not o:^ce men-
tioned, either by the queen or any lord ef the council] only, that
liAy Majham fent to him, without ihnr kno\vlcd,:e, ttuo hours be-
fore the queeri'i death. In this letter from Mr. Ford to de?n Sivif.',
which isdatfd the th'Tty-firft of yu^, it is faid, that the queen's
d forder began belween eight and nine the morning btfre, which was
the
[76]
before nine, they told me fhe was juft expiring. That
account continued above three hours, and a report
the tbtrtUtb ; and that about noon, the fame day, Raddiffe was fent
for by an order of counciL Thefe accounts being contradiftory, the
reader will, probably, want fome afiiftance to detemine what were
the facts. As to the time when the queen was taken ill, Mr.
Ford's account is moft likely to be true, as he was upon the fpot,
and in a fituation, which infured him the beft intelligence. As to
the time when the do6tor was fent for, the account in the Eiogra'
fb'ta is manifeflly falfe j far if the dodtor had been fent for only
two hours before the queen's death, which happened inconteflibly
on the firft of Augufl, Mr. Ford could not have menlionsd the faft
on the thirty-firft of Ju^y, when his letter was dated. Whether
Raddiffe Wis fent for by lady Mafham, or by otder of council, is
therefore the only point to be determined. That he was generally
reported to have been fent for by order of council, is certain;
but a letter is piinted in the Biogra^kia, faid to have been written
by the dodtor to one of his friends, which, fuppofing it to be ge-
nuine, will prove, that the doftor maintained the contrary. On the
fifth of Augufi, four days after the queen's death, a member of the
houfe of commons, a friend of the doftor's, who was a'foa mem-
ber, and one who alwaj s voted on the fame fide, moved, that he
might be fummoned to attend in his place, in order to be cenfured
for not attending on her majefly. Upon this occafion the djftor is
faid to have wiitten the following letter to another of his friends.
Dear Sir, Carfhalton, Augvfi-], 17 14.
1 Could not have thoiighf, that fo old an acquaintance^ and fo
good a friend, as Sir J n always profefied himfelf, would have
made fuch a motion againft me. God knows my will to do her
majefty any fervice has ever got the flart of my ability 5 and I have
nothing, that gives me greater anxiety and trcuble, than the death
of that great and glorious princefs. I muft do ihatjuftice to the
phyficians, that attended her in her illnefs, from a fight of the
method, that was taken for her prefervation by Dr. Mead, as to
declare nothing was omitted for her prefervation j but the people
abcut her, the plagues ef E/y^t fall on them, put it out of the
power
I77l
was carried to town, that fhe was aflually dead. She
was not prayed for, even at her own chapel at S(,
power of phyfic to bs of any benefit to her. I know the nature of
attending crowned heads, in their lart: moments, too well to be
fond of waiting upon them, zvUhjut being fent for by a proper au-
thority. You have heard of pardons being figned f:r phyficans,
before a fovereign's demife : however, ill as I was, I would have
went to the queen in a horfe-litter, had either her majcjiy, or thofe
in commijjion next tD ker, commanded me fo to do. You may tell
Sir y n as much, and alTure him, from me, that his zeal for
hermajefty will net excufe his ill ufage of a friend, who has drank
many a hundred bottles with him; and cannot, even after this
breach of a good undcrftanding, that ever was preferved between
us, but have a very good efteem for him. I muft alfo defire you to
thank Tern Chapman for his fpeech in my behalf, fince I hear it is
the firft he ever made, which is taken more kindly; and to ac-
quaint him, that 1 ihould be glad to fee him at Carpakon, fince I
fear (for fo the gout tells me) that we fliall never more fit in tiic
houfe of ccmmons together. I am, &c,
JOHN RADCLIFFE.
But whatever credit m3y now be paid to this letter, or however
it may now be thought to juftify the doctor's refufal to attend her
majefty, he became, at that time, fo much the objeft of popular
rfcfentment, that he was apprehenfive of being aflaflinated ; as ap-
pears by the follov/ ng letter, direfled to Dr. Mead, at CbiWi
coftee-houfe, in St, Paui's Church-yard,
Dear Sir, CarJJ?ahon, Augufl 3, 17 14.
1 Give jou, and your brother, many thanks for the favour you In-
tend me tomorrow ; and if there is any other friend, that will be
ag' enable to you, he /hall meet with a hearty welcome from me.
Dinner fhall be on the table by two, v/hen you may be fare to find
me ready to wait upon yi.u. Nor fliall I be at any other time from
home, becaufe I have received fsveral letters, which threaten me
wiih being pulled to pieces, if ever I come to London, After fuch
menaces as thefe, 'tis eafy to imagine, that the convcrfation of two
fuch very good friends is nst only extremely defirable, bur the en-
joyment
[ 73 ]
fames's ; and, what is more infamous, flocks arofe
three per cent, upon it in the city. Before I came
away, ihe had recovered a warmth in her breaft and
one of her arms, and all the doflors agreed, fhe would
in all probability hold out till to-morrow, except M^^^',
who pronounced, feveral hours before, ihe could not live
two minutes, and fecms unesfy it did not happen fo. I
did not care to talk much to Arhiithnot, becaufe I
heard him cautious in his anfwers to other people ;
but, by his manner, I fanfy he does not yet abfolutely
defpair. The council fat yefterday all day and night,
taking it by turns to go out and refrefh thcmfelves.
They have now adjourned, upon what the doftors faid,
till five. Lall night the fpeaker and my lord chief
juftice Parker were fent for, and the troops from Flan-
ders. This morning the Ua7io-jsrian envoy was or-
dered to attend with the black box*, and the heralds
to be in readinefs to proclaim the new king. Some of
the whigs were at the council yefterday, but not one
failed to-day; and moft of the members of that party,
in each houfe, are already come to town. Jf anj"
change happens before the poft goes out, I will fend
joyment of it will be a great happinefs and fatisfaflion to him, \\ h«
i.% ^c. JOHN rs.ADCLIFFE.
Rcidcilffe died On the firft oi Ko-vember the fame year, having fur-
V'ved the queen jufl three months ; and it is faid, that the dread he
had of the populac-, and the war t of company in the country vil-
lage, which he did not dare to leave, fliortened liis life. He was
jiift fixty-feur years old.
* ' Containing the inflrument nominating the perfons, in num-
ber thirteen, to be added ao lotds jufticcs to the feven great ofiicers
•f the realm."
a yoa
f 79 1
you word. in a poflfciipt; and you mny conclude her
alive, if you-hear no more from me, and have no bet-
ter authority than poft-letters to inform you of the
contrary. For God's fake don't think of removing
from the phace where you are, till matters are a little
fettled. Irdajid is the lart: retreat you ought to think of;
but you can never be better than you are now, till wc
fee how things go.
I had yours with the printed pamphlet, as well as-'
the other, and ftiould have fent it away to-morrow.
Pray let me hear from you.
Have you had all mine? I have failed you but on*^
pofl ( think it was the Ia,l) for a fortnight, or mors.
Eleven at N'th'',
The queen is fomething better, and the council
again adjourned till eight in the morning.
LETTER CXLVIir.
Mr. John Birch to Dr. S v/ i f t.
MR. DEAN, One o'Cl ck, Wantage, Aug. i, 1714.
/»-T twtlve o'clock lord Bolirghrohe'z man rid through
Wantage, to call Mr. Packer to LcnJcn, the queen be-
ing dead. I am confounded at the Trelancholy news ;
yet could not forbear fending it to you. Your truly
humble fcrvant, JO. BIRCH.
LET-
1 80 1
LETTER CXLIX.
Lord EoLiNGBROKE to Dr. Swift.
DEAR DEAN, Augufl 3, 1714.
J- HE earl of Oxford was removed on Tue/day; the
queen died on Sunday. What a world is this ; and
how does fortune banter us? John Barber tells me, you
have fet your face towards Ireland. Pray don't go. I
am againft it. But that is nothing j "John is agaiRll
it. Ireland will be the fcene of fome diforder, at leaft
It will be the fcene of mortification to* your friends.
Here every thingiis quiet, and will continue fo. Be-
iides which, as profperity divided, misfortune may
perhaps in fome degree unite us. 1 he tories feem to
refolve not to be crulhed ; and that is enough to pre:-
vent them from being fo. Pope has fent me a letter
from Gay : being learned in geography, he took Bin-
Jield * to be the ready :vay from Hano^vcr to Whitehall.
Adieu. But come to Lotidon^ if you flay no longer
than a fortnight. Ever yours, dear Jonathan, moft
fincerely.
I have loft all by the death of the queen, but my
Ipirit ; and I proteft to you, I feel that increafe upon
me. The whigs are a pack oi Jacobites; thatlhall be
the cry in a month, if you pleafe.
* ' A village where Mr. Pope\ father lived, and whence feve-
ral of Mr. Pope's letters were v.-ritten. It is in JVindJor-fohJi, and
lies in Berkp-jire.''
LET
[ 8i 1
L E T T E R CL.
Erasmus Lewis Efq; to Dr. Swift.
Tuefday, Auguft 3, 17 14.
J. AM overwhelmed with bufinefs, and therefore have
only time to tell you, I received yours of Augvfi the
id, and think you fhould come to town, to fee how the
world goes : for all old fchemes, defigns, projedts,
journeys, i3c. are broke, by this great event. We are
ill prognofticators. Every thing goes on with a tran-
quillity we durft not hope for. Earl Berkeley com-
mands the fleet. Lord Dorfet compliments the king.
The duke of Bolton, lord-lieutenant of Southampton,
Adcii/on, fecretary to the regents.
LETTER CLL
Mr. John Barber to Dr. Swift.
HONOURED SIR, Auguft 3, 1714.
JL O U may eafily imagine the concern we were all
in at the fudden furprife of the queen's death. I have
hardly recovered it yet. Lord Bclingbrcke told me lafl
Friday, that he would reconcile you to lady Somvfet*^
• We are told in the life of S'zv'ift, prefixed to Bathurji's edi-
tion of his works, that before his acquaintance with lord Oxford, a
bifhopric \> as intended for him by the queen ; bu: that archbishop
Sharp, and a certain great lady, having mifreprefented his princi-
ples and character, her majefty gave it to another The duchefs
of Somerjet was this certain great lady. She was firfl: lady of the
bed-chamber, and lady of the robes, Ses an account of her in-
Voi. 11, G tcrpofing
[ 8^2 ]
and then it would be eafy to fet you right with the
queen, and that you (hould be made eafy here, and
not go over. He faid twenty things in your favour,
and commanded me to bring you up, whatever was
the confequence. He faid further, he would make
clear work with them. But all vanifhed ina minute;
and he is now threatened and abufed every day by
the party, who publicly rejoice, and fwear, they will
turn out every tory in Englatid.
Inclofed you have a letter from my lord ; he defires
you w uld come up, and be any where incognito.
The earl of Berkeley is to command the fleet to fetch
over the king, and the duke of Argyle is to go to Scot-
land, I fend you the lift of twenty-five kings f. Poor
lady Majham is almoft dead with grief.
The parliament meets to-morrow, which will hin-
der me from coming down for three or four days; but
if you refolve to flay in the country farther, I will
certainly come down ; for I muft needs fee you. Pray
favour me with a line. I am. Sir, your moft obedient
humble fervant. Pray come up.
When my lord gave ntie the letter, he
faidj he hoped you would come up,
and help to fave the tonftitution,
which, with a little good manage-
ment, might be kept in tory hands.
terpofing between her majefty's favour and the Dean, with her mo-
tive, in Vol, XIV, of Swift's woiks, 8vo. edition.
* The lords of the regency.
L E T-
C 83 ]
BETTER CLII.
Charles Ford, Efq; to Dr. Swift.
London, Auguft 5, 1714.
1 HAVE writ to Da^-sfon for a licence of abfence for
you; but you knowyou niufl: take the oaths in Ire-
land within three months. There are a great many
here in the fame circumftancesj and, in all probabi-
lity, fome of them will defire an ad of parliament to
have leave to do it here. In that cafe, it will be no
difficult matter to have you included. Mr. Leivis
tells me, he wrote to you to come up to town, and I
fee no reafon*vhy you fhould not. All matters go on
very quiet, and we are not apprehenfive of any di-
fturbances. Stocks never rofe fo much in fo few days.
This is imputed to the hatred of the old treafurer, and
the popularity of the new one. The whigs were not
in the council when he was recommended. Lord Bo-
lingbroke propofed it there, as well as to the queen ;
and, I hope, they two are upon very good terms,
though Mr. Leixns feems pofitive of the contrary. I
never heard of any pique the duke had to him, but
that he was to be chief miniftcr: and that being at an
end, why may not they be reconciled ? The dragon
was thought to fliew more joy upon proclaiming the
king, than was confluent with the obligations he had
received from He was hiffed all the way by
the mob, and fome of them threw halters into his
coach. This was not the effeifl of party ; for the
duke of Ormond was huzza'd throughout the whole
G 2, city.
[ 84 J
city, and was followed by a vaft crowd to his ov/n-
Houfe, though he ufed all poflible endeavours to pre-
vent it. There was an attempt to aftront the captain
in the cavalcade, but it did not lucceed ; and though
a few hi/Ted, the acclamations immediately drowned
the noife. Not a fingle man ihewed the leaft refpeft
to the colonel', and lafl: night my lord Bingley* was-
beaten, by miftake, coming out of his houfe. I doubt
he has difobliged both iides fo much, that neither
will ever own him ; and his enemies tell llories of him,,
that I Ihall not believe till I hnd you allow them. •
The lords juftices made a fpeech to the parliament
to-day. If it comes out time enough, I will fend it
you; but I hear it only contains their proceedings
upon the queen's death ; that they have yet received
no dire£lions from the king, and to defire the com-
mons to continue the funds, which are expired. I am
told, our regents are already divided into four par-
ties. The greateft ufe they have made yet of their
power, is to appoint my lord Berkeley to command
the fleet, which is to bring over the king, and to
make the duke of Bolton lord lieutenant of Hatnp-
jJoire.
I fend you a Gazette f, though I am afliamed to have
it feen. I had v/rit a great deal more of the queen's
illnefs, an account of her birth, ^c. but I could not
£nd out Mt. Levjis, and had nobody to confult with,
and therefore, chofe rather to fay too little, than any
* ' Who had been appointed ambpffador extraordinary to the.
court of Spam, in the room of ioid Lcxingioa, in December 17 1^-"
-f He was gazetteer,
thing
[ 8; 3
tiling I doubted might be improper. Yeilerday the
duke of Marlborough made his public entry thro' the
city: firll, came about two hundred horfemen, three
in a row, then a company of train-bands, with drums.,
i^c. his own chariot with himfelf, then his duchefs,
followed by fixteen coaches with fix horfes, and be-
tween thirty and forty with two horfes. There was
no great mob when he pafTed through the Pall-Mall,
but there was in the city: and he was hiffed by more
than huzza'd. At Temple-bar, I am affured, the noife
of hiffing was loudeft, though they had prepared their
friends to receive him, and the gathering of others
was only accidental. You may guefs how great a fa-
vourite he is, by fome old ftories of his behaviour at
the camp, when — — — was there, and afterwards at
Hano-uer ; and by the fhare he and his family have in
the regency. But to be fure, this difcreet adlion will
€ndear him more than any fubje£t in England. We
had bonfires, l^c. at night. From the lift of the lords
juftices, and fome other things, v/e imagine to our-
felves there will not be many changes, but that the
vacancies for fome time w^ill be filled up with whigs.
What I blotted out in my laft, was fomething,
that pafTed between the captain and Barber, relating
to you. After I had writ, they told me all letters
would be opened, which made me blot out that paf-
fage. Barber fays, he gave you fome account of it,
though not a full one. I really believe lord Boliiigbroke
was very fincere in the profefTions he made of you,
and he could have done any thing. No minifler was
ever in that height of favour; and lady Majham v.'as
G 3 at
[ S6 ]
at leafl:, in as much credit, as flie had been in any
time of her life. But thefe are melancholy refledlions.
Pray fend me your poem *, Hoc erat. Sec. or bring it
up yourfelf. Barber told me, he had been feveral
hours with the captain, upon a thing, that fliould.
have come out, but was now at an end f . He did
not tell what it was ; and I would not afk many quef-
tions, for fear of giving him fufpicion,
LETTER CLIII.
Erasmus Lewis, Efq; to Dr. S w i p t,
SIR, Whitehall, Auguft 7, 17 14.
X T is true you have nothing to do here ; but what
have you to do any where elfe till you go to Ireland,
where you mull indeed be before three months end, in
order to qualify yourfelf.'' The law requires it, as
much as if your deanry was but now conferred upon
you.
Arb-uthnot is removed to Chelj'ea, and will fettle
there. The town fills every moment. We are as full
in the houfe of commons as at any time. We are gap«
ing and flaring to fee who is to rule us. The whigs
think they fhall engrofs alh We think we fliall have
cur Ihare. In the mean time we have no divifion at
* This poem ia an imitation of part of tlie fixth fatire of the fe-
condbook of Horace, and is printed in Vol, VI. of Bathur^'s 8vo,
edition of 1754, p. 55.
I often wilK'd, that I had clear,
For life, fix hundred pound$ a year^ £ff,
•J- Free Thoughts,
council,
[ 87 ]
GOcncil, or in pailiament. I fent twice to Kenfington
to enquire after lady Majham*s health. Next week I
will go to fee her, and will keep up my acquaintance,
in all events, if (he thinks fit. I will ftay here till
Gur commiilion is either renewed to us, or given to
another. I am yours, Uc»
LETTER CLIV.
Erasmus Lewis, Efq; to Dr. Swift.
SIR, Whtchall, Auguft lo, J714.
i NEVER differed from you, in my opinion, in any
point fo much, as in your propofal to accommodate
matters between the dragon and his quondam friends. I
will venture to go fo far with you, as to fay he con-
tributed to his own difgrace, by his petiteffes, more
than they did, or ever had it in their power to do.
But fmce they would admit of no terms of accommo-
dation, when he offered to ferve them in their own
way, I had rather fee his dead carcafe, than ihat he
fhould now tamely fubrait to thofe, who have loaded
him with all the obloquy malice could fuggeft, and
tongues utter. Have not Charteris *, Brinfden f, and
all the runners, been employed to call him dog,
* The celebrated colonel C/?>i:r/mj, whofe cha- after and epitaph
may be found in the works of Mr. Pope.
-f- * He is faid, by Mr. Boyer, in Political State, vol. iii. for Jant
1711-12. p. 52, to have been an oci li(^, and a oi-ivite agent of
lord Bolir.gbroke ; and to have been employed by the government
injfamiary, 17H-12, to attend on prince Eugene, whpn his hfgh-
lisfs arrived in England \n the beginning of that month,'
G 4 villainy
[ 88 ]
villain, fot, and worthlefs ? And fliall he, after this,
join them ? To what end ? I have great tendernefs for
for lady *, and think her beft way is to retire,
and enjoy the comforts of a domeftic life. But fure
the earth has not produced fuch monfters as Mercuria-
li)f, and his companion J, and the prelate ||. The
lafl openly avows he never had obligations to the
dragon, loads him with ten thoufand crimes; tho' his
greateft, in reality, was preferring him. But to come
out of this rant; What fliould they be friends for?
Cui bono ? Are v/e in a dream ? Is the queen alive
again ? Can the lady § hereafter make any figure, but
be a.perJona muta in a drama? If the (dragon declares
againft the man of mercury, he may flrike in with the
ieriium quid, that will probably arife; but with him
he can never be otherwife than fpurned and hated.
The natural refult of this is, that however I may, for
my private fatisfadlion, defire to fee you here, I can-
not but think you fhould go to Ireland to qualify
yourfelf, and then return hither, when the chaos will
be jumbled into fome kind of order. If the king keeps
fome tories in employment, the notion of whig and
tory will be loft ; but that of court and country will
arife*. The regency has declared in favour of the
whigs in Ireland, I believe Mr. Tho7nas will ftand
* Majham.
•\ Lord Bolirglroke.
% ' Probably the lord chancellor HarcourtJ'
H The bifhop of Rochejler.
§ Lady Majham.
• This is a remarkable predidlion, which we have feen fulfilled.
his
rs9i
his ground. We fhall be diflblved as foon as we have
fettled the civil lift. We have no appearance, that
any attempt will be formed by the pretender.
LETTER CLV.
Lord BoLiNGEROKE to Dr. Swift.
Auguft II, 1714.
1 SWEAR I did not imagine, that you could have
held out through two pages, even of fmall paper, in
fo grave a ftile. Your ft.ite of late paffages is right
enough. 1 reficft upon them with indignation, and fhall
never forgive myfelf for having trufted fo long to fo
much real pride and aukward humility; to an air of
fuch familiar friendfhip, and a heart fo void of all
tendernefs ; to fuch a temper of engroffing bufinefs
and power, and fo perfed an incapacity to manage
one, with fuch a tyrannical difpofition to abufe the
other, iJc *.
But enough of this, I cannot load him as k — — ,
without fixing fool on myfelf.
For you I have a moft fincere and warm afFe£lion»
and in every part of my life will fhew it. Go into
Ireland, fince it muft be fo, to fvvear f. and come back
into Britain to blefs me, and thofc few friends, wha
will enjoy you. ^
• He means lord Oxfoei.
■j- 'That is, to take the oaths to the government on king
Ct rgtz acceiTion to the throne.'
Jobannis
f 90 ]
. 'Johannes Tc^for * brings you this. From him you
will hear what is doing. Adieu, love me, and love
me the better, becaufe after a greater blovy than mqft
men ever felt, I keep up my fpirit; am neither de-
jefted at vi^hat has paffed, nor apprehenfive of what is
to come. Mea 'virtute me in^vd-vo.
LETTER CLVI.
Charles Foro, Efq; to Dr. Swift,
London, Aug. 12, 1714,
^U R juflices fit feveral hours every day, without
aifording us the leaft news. I don't hear any thing
■they have done worth mentioning, except fome or-
ders they have given about the difpute in the city of
Dublin. You may be fure they are not fuch as will
pleafe our friends ; but I think you and I agreed in
condemning thofe proceedings in our own people.
My lord Darhj is made lord lieutenant of LancaJlAre.
That and Harnpjijire are the only vacant employments
they have filled up; I fuppofe, under pretence of
their being maritinie counties. U the whigs had di-
reaed the lift of regents, Marlborough, SundcrhncUw^
Trhartonh^d not been left out. There are five tories
too, that would not have been in. Though they
were a little v%'himfical for three or four days about the
fucceffion, they fecmed to recant, and own themfelves
in an error by tlie later votes. Every one of them
approved the peace, and were for the addrcfs at the
* yfhn Barber,
2 end
[91 ]
end of the lafl: fefiion, that it was fafe, honourable and
advantageous. Confidering what minifters were em-
ployed here by the court of Hanover, and that the
king himfelf had little information but what he re-
ceived from them, I think his lift fliews no ill difoo-
fition to the tories : and they fay he is not apt to be
hafty in removing the perfons he finds in employment.
The bill is brought in for srrantinp; him the old duties
for the civil lift. One Wikes, of Northampton, moved
to tack the place-bill to it ; but nobody fcconded him,
and he was extremely laughed at. He happens un-
luckily to be a tory.
Did you receive your papers laft poft r The firft
copy is not yet left at St. Duvjlan'i. Should I fend
to Barber for it in lord Bclhighroke'i name ? I have
writ to him to bring in his bill, and as foon as he
comes I will pay him. I fuppofe I fliall fee him to-
morrow. I wifti you a good journey to Ireland, But
if I here Saturday's poft comes into Wantage on Sunday ^
I may trouble you again. Pray let me know when
you land in Ireland, that I may write to you, if any
thing happens worthwhile. I ftiall be very impatient
for what you promife me from thence. I fliould be
very glad to hear from you while you are on the road.
Lord Anglefey came to town laft Tuefday. They arc
all here now, except Pembroke and Strafford. Charles
E'versfield is making his court to the dukes of Somerfct
find Jrgyle : he declares he will keep his place, if he
can, and that he will not ftir for Campion''s eleftion in
the county of SuJJex, Campion and he have had fome
high words upon that account. Lord Orford \.d[i\. the
cdmmiftloners
[ 92 I
commiffioners of the admiralty, they were ignorant,
negligent of their duty, and wanted zeal for the king'j
fervice.
LETTER CLVII.
Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. S \v i f t.
MY DEAR FRIEND, Auguft 12, 1714.
1 THANK you for your kind letter, which is very
comfortable upon fuch a melancholy occafion. My
dear millrefs's days were numbered even in my ima-
gination, and could not exceed fuch certain limits,
tut of that fmall number a great deal was cut off by
the laft troublefome fcene of this contention among her
fervants. I belive fleep was never more welcome to a
weary traveller than death was to her ; only it fur-
prized her too fuddenly before Ihe had figned her will ;
which no doubt her being involved in fo much bufinefs
hindered her from finifliing, It is unfortunate, that
fhe had been perfuaded, as is fuppofed by Lowndes,
that it was neceffary to have it under the great feal. I
have figured to myfelf all this melancholy fcene; and
even, if it be poflible, worfe than it has happened
twenty times; fo that I vvas prepared for it. My cafe
is not half fo deplorable as poor lady Majharnhy and
feveral of the queen's fervants; fome of whom have
no chance for their bread but the generofity of his
prefent majefty, which fevera! people, that know him,
very much commend. So far is plain from what has
happened in public affairs, that what one party af-
firmed
[ 93 I
firmed of the fettlement has proved true, that It was
firm : that it was in fome meafure an advantage to the
fucceffor nctf to have been here, and (o obliged to
declare himfelf in feveral things, in which he is now
at liberty. And indeed, never any prince in this
refpeft came to the crown with greater advantage.
I can affiire you the peaceable fcene, that now ap-
pears, is a difappointment to more than one fet of
people.
I have an opportunity calmly and philofophlcally
to confider that treafure of vilenefs and bafenefs, that
I always believed to be in the heart of man ; and to
behold them exert their infolence and bafenefs : every
new inllance, inftead of furprizing and grieving me,
as it does fome of my friends, really diverts me,
and in a manner improves my theory. Though I
think I have not met with it in my own cafe, except
from one man. And he was very far miftaken, for
to him I would not abate one grain of my proud fpi-
rit. Dear friend, the laft fentence of your letter
quite kills me. Never repeat that melancholy tender
word, that you will endeavour to forget me. I am
fure I never can forget you, till I meet with (what is
impoflible) another, whofe converfation I can delight
fo much in as Dr Stvift^s : and yet that is the fmalleft
thing I ought to value you for. That hearty fincere
friendfliip, that plain and open ingenuity in all your
commerce, is what I am fure I never can find in an-
other man. I Ihall want often a faithful monitor, one
that would vindicate me behind my back, and tell
me my faults to my face. God knows I write this
with
t94]
with tears In my eyes. Yet do not be obftlnate, bu'
come up for a little time to London; and if you muft
needs go, we may concert a manner of correfpon--
dence wherever we are. I have a lettei- from Gay ]\.\9i
before the queen's death. I^ he not a true poet, who
had not one of his own books to give to the priucefs,
that aflced for one ?
LETTER CLVm.
Charles Ford, Efq; to Dr. Swift.
Aug. 14, I7i4*«
I SUPPOSE you expert news upon Craggs'a return
from Hajic^-jer ; but I don't hear a v/ord more thaa
what you have in the lords juftices fpeech. Yeflerday
morninp- after he came, the whies looked dejeded,
and our friends very riiuch pleafed ; tho' I do not
know any reafon for either, unlefs it was expefted by
both fides, that he would have brought orders for al-
terations. It feems the dragofi's entertainment was
on a family account, upon the agreement between
. lord Harley and lord Pelham ; and only thofe, who
were concerned in their affairs, were invited. . Bat
{lighter grounds would have ferved to raife a ftory at
this time ; and it was fufficient, that my lord To^jjn-
JherJ and lord Co-ivj>e>- dined at his houfe. However,
we look upon him as loft to our fide ; and he has cer-
. • ' On the back of this letter is tlie following n' te of the Dean.
" Memorandum, I Itk LeUomh, Jugujl 16, 1714^ in order to go
to Ireland,''^
tainly
l9S J
tainly made advances of civility to the wliigs, wliich
they have returned with the utmofl contempt. I am
told Dijmal * begins to declare for his old friends, and
protellis he was really afraid for the proteftant fuc-
ceffion, which made him aft in the manner he did.
The foreign peers are certainly deprived of their right
of voting by the exprefs words of the aft of Aiccef-
fion ; and it appears it was the intention of the legif-
lature at that time, for prince George of Denmark was
excepted by name ; but it is thought the lords will
interpret it otlierwife when it conies to be tried. They
don't lofe the other privileges of peerage, and their
pofterity born here may fit in the houfe. The fame
claufe extends to the houfe of commons ; and no fo-
reigner can enjoy any employment, civil or military.
They may be favourable to the lords, who are all
whigs ; but I doubt poor Duke Dijney will lofe his re-
giment. I fuppofe Barber has given you an account
of lord B 's pamphlet. If you and he are not
come to an eclairciflement upon it, fhall I fend to him
for it ? I long for the other. Yefterday the commons
voted nemine con. to pay the Hanover troops, that de-
ferted us in 1712. To-day Sir WHI'wmi Wyndhajn,
Campion, and two or three more, gave fome oppofi-
tion to it ; for which they are extremely blamed. I
think they had afted right, if they had fpoke againft
it yefterday ; but it feems they were not then in the
houfe. They had not ilrcngth enough to-day to come
to a divifion.
* The earl of Nottingham.
Once
[96]
Once more I wifli you a good journey and a quiek
return ; and I hope you will find things go better
than you expeft.
LETTER CLIX.
Mr. G A Y to Dr. A r b u t h n o t, or the Dean of
St. Patrick^.
Hanover, Aug. i6, 1714.
You remember, Ifuppofe, that I was to write you
abundance of letters from Hano^ver ; but as one of the
moil diftinguifhing qualities of a politician is fecrecy,
you mull not expedb from me any arcanas of ilate.
There is another thing, that is neceffary to eflablifh the
charadler of a politician; which is, to feem always
to be full of affairs of Hate ; to know the confultatlons
of the cabinet council, when at the fame time all his
politics are colleded from news-papers. Which of
thefe two caufes my fecrecy is owning to, I leave you
to determine. There is yet one ching more, that is
extremely necefiary for a foreign minifter, which he
can no more be without, than an artizan without his
terms ; I mean, the terms of his art. I call it an art
or fcience, becaufe I think the king of France hath
ellablifted an academy to inftruft the young Machia-
nidlians of his country in the deep and profound fci-
ence of politics. To the end that I might be quali-
fied for an employment of this nature, and not only
be qualified myfelf, but (to fpeak in the llile of Sir
'John Faljlaff) be the caufe of qualifications in others,
■ 3 I have
[ 97 ]
I have made It my bufinefs to read memoirs, treaties,
Iffc. And as a diiflionary of law terms is thought
neceflary for young beginneis ; fo I thought a dic-
tionary of terms of rtate would be no lefs ufeful for
young politicians. The terms of politics being not
fo numerous, as to fwell into a volume, efpecially in
time of peace, (for in time of war all the terms of
fortification are included) I thought fit to extra£l
them in the fame manner, for the benefit of young
praflitioners, as a famous author hath compiled his
learned treatife of the law, called the Doftor and
Student. I have not made any great progrefs in this
piece; but, hov/cver, I will juft give you a fpecimen
of it, which will make you in the fame manner a
judge of the defign and nature of this treatife.
Politician. What are the necefTary tools for a prince
to work with ?
Student, Minifters of ftate.
Politician. What are the two great qualities of a
minifter of Hate ?
Student. Secrecy and difpatch.
Politician. Into how many parts are the minifters
of ftate divided ?
Student. Into two. Firft, minifters of ftate at home ;
fecondly, minifters of ftate abroad, who are called
foreign minifters.
Politician. Very right. Now, as I defign you for
the latter of thefe employments, I fhall wave faying
any thing of the firft of thefe. What are the different
degrees of foreign minifters ?
Vol. II. H Student,
t 98 3
Student. The different degrees of foreign miniftefs
are as follow. Firft, Plenipotentiaries. Second,
Embafladors extraordinary. Third, Embafladors in
ordinary. Fourth, Envoys extraordinary. Fifth,
Envoys in ordinary. irixth, Reiidents. Seventh^
Confuls. And eighth, Secretaries.
Politician. How is a foreign minifter to be known ?
'Student. By his credentials.
Politician. When are a foreign minifter's credentials
to be delivered ?
Student. Upon his firft adniiffion into the prefence
of the prince, to whom he is fent, otherwife called
his firft audience.
Politician- How many kind of audiences are there?
Student. Two, which are called a public audience,
and a private audience.
Politician. What fhould a foreign minifter's beha*
viour be when he has firft audience ?
Student. He ftiould bow profoundly, fpeak delibe-
rately, and wear both fides of his long periwig be-
fore.
By thefe few queftions and anfwers you may be able
to make fome judgment of the ufefulnefs of this politic
treatife. Wicquefort, it is true, can never be fuffi.*
ciently admired for his elaborate treatife of the con-
duct of an embaflador in all his negotiations : but I
defign this only as a compendium, or the embaffa-
dor's manuel, or 'vade mecu?n.
I have wrote fo far of this letter, and do not know
who to fend it to j but I have now determined to fend
[ 99 I
it, either to Dr. Arhutknot, or the dean of St. Patrick^s,
or to both. My lord Clarendon is very much approved
of at court ; and I believe is not diiTatisfied with his
reception. We have not much variety of diveriions :
what we did yellerday and to-day we fliall do to-mor-
row ; which is to go to court, and walk in the gar-
dens at Herenhanfeju If I write any more, my letter
will be juft like my diveriions, the fame thing over
and over again. So, Sirs, your moll obliged, hum-
ble fervant, ^ J. G A Y.
I would have writ this letter over again, but I had not time*
Correal all erratas.
LETTER CLX.
Dr. Ar-buthnot to Dr. Swift.
DEAR BROTHER, Oa. 19, 1714.
JIjVEN in affliftion your letter made me melan-
choly, and communicated fome of the fpleen, which
you had, when you wrote it, and made me forfeit
fome of my reputation of chearfulnefs and temper un-
der affliftion. However, I have fo many fubjedls
amongft my friends and fellow-fervants to be grieved
for, that I can eafily turn it off myfelf with credit.
The queen's poor fervants are like fo many poor or-
phans expofed in the very ftreets. And thofe, whofe
pafl obligations of gratitude and honour ought to have
engaged them to have reprefentcd their cafe, pafs by
them, like fo many abandoned creatures, without the
poflibility of ever being able to make the leaft return
H 2 for
[ 10© ]
for a favour, which has added to my theory of human
virtue.
I wifli I did not only haunt you in the obliging
and affbiflionate fenfe you are pleafed to exprefs it,
but were perfonally prefent with you ; and I think
it were hardly in the power of fortune not to make
fome minutes pleafant. I dine with my lord and lady
Maflyam to-day, where we will, as ufually, remember
you.
You have read ere this time the hijiory of the White
S.'aff*, which is either contrived by an enemy, or by
himfelf, to bring down vengeance ; and I have told
fome of his neareft friends fo. All the dragon can fay
will not give him one fingle friend amongO: the whole
party ; and therefore I even wonder at him, which
you will fay is a ftrange thing. The very great per-
fon of all f can hardly fpeak of him with patience.
■ The Conde afts like a man of fpirit, makes up to the
k -, and talks to him, and would have aded with
more fenfe than any of them, could he have had any
body to have a£ted along with him : nos ?m??ierz{s fu-
miis, SiC. The man you fpeak of is juft as you de-
* ' A pamphlet written by Mr. Daniel Je Foe, and pubJifhed in
J 7 14, in 8vo, in two parts, under the title of The feci et hiJlory of
the M'hiie St^ff; being an account of affairs under the conduEl of fane
iate minijlers, and of nvkat might probably have happened, if her ma-
jejiy had not died. Soon after the publication of it came out in
8vo, A deteSilon of the fophijiry and falfuiei of the pamphlet, en-
titled, Tlie fecet hiftory of the White Staff, containing an enquiry
into tie Staff'j conduB in the late management , particularly with re-
fpef? to the prctcflant fucceffion,'
f Probably king Csorge I,*
fcribe.
[ 101 1
fcrlbe, fo I beg pardon. Sbadivell fays, he will Iiave
my place at Chelfea. Garth told me, his merit was
giving intelligence about his miilrefs's health. I de-
fired he would do me the favour to fay, that I valued
myfelf upon quite the contrary ; and I hoped to live
to fee the day, when his majefty would value me the
more for it too. I have not feen any thing as yet to
make me recant a certain inconvenient opinion I have,
that one cannot pay too dear for peace of mind.
Poor philofopher Berkeley has now the idea * of
health, which was very hard to produce in him ; for
he had an idea of a ftrange fever upon him fo ftror.g,
that it was very hard to dedroy it by introducing a
contrary one. Poor Gay is much where he was, only
out of the t duchefs's family and fervice. He has feme
confidence in the princefs and countefs ol Picbonrgh ;
I wifn it may be fignificant to him. I advifed him to
make a poem upon the princefs before fhe came over,
defcribing her to the Englijh ladies ; for it feems the
princefs does not diflike that. She is really a perfon,
that I believe will give great content to every body.
But Gay was in fuch a groveling condition, as to the
affairs of the world, that his mufe would not ftoop to
vifit him. I can fay no more of news, than that you
will find the proceedings hitherto have been compa-
ratively gentle. Adieu.
• This alludes to his book. In which he attemp's to prove,
th't a'l things fuppofed to depend upon a material world fubfift
only in idea.
■\ The duchcrs of Monmtufb,
H 3 LET-
[ 102 y
LETTER CLXI*.
Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. S w i f t.
1 THANK you kindly for yours, with the inclofed
from our friend. I would have obeyed your com-
mands as to the l?i/Io>y of the White Staff; but that there
really is no anfwer to it, more than a thing, that
rifes juft out of what Is faid in the hiflory. None
wrote on purpofe by any one, that knows matters of
faft, or can contradid what he fays ; or indeed wrote
by concert of the perfons, that are attacked. And I
reckon any other is not worth your while to read.
The dragon denies it ; but as I told the governor, it
is neceflary for him to do that in a very folemn and
ftrong manner ; elfe there will be a ripping anfwer,
as you fay. All things go on at the ufual rate. I
am at an uncertainty ftill as to my little office. I leave
them to do juft as they pleafe. George Fielding and
brigadier Brittain are grooms of the bedchamber,
which does not feem altogether the doing of a certain
great man. The groom of the ftole is ftill uncertain,
lying betwixt two, that you know. I am told, that the
great perfon of all has fpoke more contemptibly of the
dragon than of any body, and in very hard term s . Has
not he managed finely at laft ? The princefs gives
great content to every body. I will add no more,
being to write on the other fide to the dean ; which
pray forward.
* Written on the fame paper with the laft,
LET-
X «03 2
LETTER CLXir.
Pr. Swift to Sir Arthur Lang ford.
SIR, ^ Trim, Oft. 30, 1714.
1 W A S to wait on you the other day, and was told
by your fervant, that you are not to be feen tiJl to-
wards evening, which, at the diftance I am at this
time of the year, cannot- eafily be compafTed. My
principal bufinefs was to let you know, that fince my
laft return from E'lgland m^iny perfonshave complained
to me, that I fufFered i conventicle to be kept in my
parlfh, and in a place, where there never was any
before. I mentioned this to your nephew Ro'w/ey in
Dublitiy when he came to me with this meffage from
you ; but I could not prevail with him to write to you
about it. I have always looked upon you as an ho-
neft gentleman, of great charity and piety in your
way, and 1 hoct you will remember at the fame time,
that it becomes you to be a legal man, and that you
will not promote or encourage, much lefs give a be-
giuiiing to, a thing direilly contrary to the law.
You know the diffenters in Ireland are fufFered to have
their conventicles only by connivance, and that only
in places where they formerly ufed to meet. Whereas
this conventicle of yours is a new thing, in a new
place, entirely of your own ereftion, Jind perverted to
this ill ufe from the delign you outwarrli^ feemcd to
have intended it for. It has been the .vcaknefs of the
diffenters to be too fanguine and affaming upon events
in the ftate, which appeared to give them the leaft en-
H 4 couragement;
[ I04 ]
couragement ; and this, in other turns of affairs, hath
proved very much to their difadvantage. The mcft
moderate churchmen may be apt to refent when they
fee a feci, without toleration by law, infulting the
eftablifhed religion- Whenever the legiflature Ihall
think fit to give them leave to build new conventi-
cles, all good churchm.en will fubmit ; but till then
we can hardly fee it without betraying our church. I
hppe therefore you will not think it hard, if I take
thofe methods, which my duty obliges me, to prevent
this growing evil, as far as it lies in my power, unlefs
you fhall think fit from your own prudence, or the
advice of fome underflanding friends, to Ihut up the
doors of that conventicle for the future. I am, with
true friendlhip and efteem, Sir, your moft obedient
humble fervant, B,
LETTER CLXIir.
Erasmus Lewis, Efq; to Dr. Swift.
SIR, Nov. 4, 1714.
1 HAVE one letter from you to acknowledge, which
1 will do very foon. In the mean time, I fend this
to acquaint you, that if you have not already hid
your papers in fome private place in the hands of a
truily friend, I fear they will fall into the hands of
our enemies. Sure, you have already taken care in
this matter, by what the public prints told you of the
proceedings of the great men towards the earl of
Sf'raforii and Mr. Prior. However, for greater cau-
tion, this is fent you by——— I am, is'c,
L E T-
[ I05 1
LETTER CLXIV.
Monfieur Swift a Monfieur G i R a l d i,
MONSIEUR, De Dublin, Fevriere 25, 1714-15.
I E prens la liberte de vous prefenter le porteur de
^ellucy, Monfieur //oTowi/, gentilhomme favant et de
condition de ce pais cy; qui pretend de faire le tour
d' lialie; et qui etant chanoine en mon doyenne et
profefTeur de college icy, veut en voyageant parmi
les catholique s'opiniatrer le plus dans fon herefie.
Et apres tout, Monfieur, il n'eft que jufle, que puif-
que vous avez derobe notre franchile Angloife pour
I'ajouter a vutre politeiTe liaUenne, que quelques uns
de nous autres tramontanes devoient en voyageant
chez vous a faire dcs rcprifailles. Vous me fouiHriez
aufii de vous prier de prefenter mes tres humble de-
voirs a fon altefle royale le Grand Due.
Pour mon particulier, Monfieur, je prens la liberte
de vous dire, que deux mois devant la mort de la
reine, voyant, qu'il etoit tout a fait impollible de
r' accommoder mes amis du minillere, je me retire a
la campagne en Berkfiire, d'ou apres ce trifle evene-
ment je ven'ois en Irlande, ou je demure en mon doy-
enne, et atiens avec la refignation d'un bon Chretien
la ruin de notre caufe et de mes amis, managee tous
les jours par la fadlion dominante. Car ces MefHeurs
font tout a fait refolu de trancher unc dcmi-douzaine
des tetes des milleurs d^ Angkterre., et que vous avez
fort bicn connus et efiimes. Dieu fait que en fera
revenement. Pour moy, j'ai quittc pour jamais la po-
litique.
[ ic6 I
lltique, et avec la permlffion des bons gens, qui fonM
ipaintenant en vogue, je demeureray la refte de ma
vie en raon hermitage pour fonger a, mon falut.
Adieu, Monfieur, et me faites la juflice de croire,
que je fuis, ayec beaucoup de refpefl, Monfieur, vo^
|re, &c,.
, ^qu, Monfieur Giraldl was fecrctary to the duk? cf Tufcany^
LETTER CLXV.
Pr. AuEVTHNOT to Dr, Swift.
Aug. 6, 1715.
I RECEIVED your very HeracHtian letter. I am
kinder than you. I defirc to hear your complaints,
i.n4 will always Ihare them, when I cannot remove
them. I iliould have the fame concern for things as
you, were I not convinced, that a comet will make
much more ftrange revolutions upon the face of our
globe, than all the petty changes, that can be occa-
£oned by governments and miniftries. And you will
gllow it to be a matter of importance, to think of
methods to fave one's felf and family in fuch a terri-
H^Ie fhock, when this whole earth will turn upon new-
PQ.les, and revolve in a new orbit, I confider myfelf
^ a, poor pafTsnger, and that the earth is not to be
forfaken, nor the rocks removed for me, But yot^
%t^ Qertainly fome firft minifter of a great monarch,
^\xo, for fome milbehaviour, are condemned, in this
ifevolution of things, to govern a chapter, and a choir
effinging-men. lam fure I fhould think myfelf happy,
■■ . " if
[ 107 ]
if I had only Tuch a province as the latter. Cer*
tainly your chapter is too peaceable, and not like other
chapters ; elfe they would give you more occupation*
You fee I begin with philofophy. As to bufinefs, I
this moment faw the dragon. He had your letters,
and fhewed them to me xoviiO. time ago, and feems to
be mighty fond of the project : only he is to be at
Wttnjile, and not in Herefordjhire, and it is but a ftcp
further. He is to write to-night, if you believe him,
to that very purpoie ; naj , I am to have the letter to
inclofe, and I intend to keep mine open till eleven.
It is ftrange, that you fhould imagine the dragon had
call his exuviae in his uen *, or that confinement is a
cure for ina<5tivity; {o far from it, all thefe habits are
ten times flrongcr upon him than even Leivii will
furnifh you with a colledtioa of new ftoiies, that are
as far beyond the old ones, as you ciin imagine.
Therefore I fay again, come, and you will be far
from finding any fuch difmai fcenes as you defcribe.
Your own letter will furnifh you with topics to con-
quer your melancholy. For in fuch a mutability
what is it, that mull not in time caft up? Even the
return of chat brother f you mention. And as philo-
fopHical as larn, I Ihould be very fad, if I did not
think that very probable and feafible. As to your
fnends, cho' the world' is changed to them, they are
not changed to you ; and you will be carefled as much
as ever, and by fome, that bore you no good will for-
merly. Do you think there is no pkalure in hearing
• He was Tent to the Tower,
•f Boiii:gbi(,ke.
the
[ io8 ]
the H———'r club * declaim upon tlie clemency and
gentlenefs of the late reign, and a thoufand ftranger
tilings ? As for the conflitution, it is in no more dan-
ger than a flrong man, that has got a little furfeit by
drunkennefs. All will be well, and people recover
their fober fenfes every day. Several of your friends
dine with me to-day, lady Ma , John Drummond,
the judge, £ifc. where you will be remembered. I wifh
I could return your compliments as to my wife and
bairns. Sure you are a very ill hufband, for you had
the compleat thoufand, when you were in England,
and fixpence of another thoufand given by the «'i>-^-
gD7t. I remember that full well. L is gone his
progrefs. I fhall be at Bath in a fortnight. Come
that way. Adieu.
I really think the perfon I recommended will do
well; he will be quite another thing before Michael-
mas, with Rof.tigrave'% f teaching, Sift-. He has a
good voice.
LETTER CLXVI.
Dr. F R 1 E N i> J to Dr. Swift.
MR. DEAN, Weflm. Sept. 20, 1715,
1 AM much obliged to lady Kerry for giving you an
occafion of writing, and fhall always be pleafed in
receiving any commands from you. Mr. Fitzmaurice
• Jlanc've'- c\uh, of which Amtrofe Pii!if>t, e'q; vas fecretary,
■f- Seethe note on Prior's Istter, dated ^igu/i 16, 1713.
X ' Roiert FrienJ, D. D. maftcr of ?;'^w/,-»/2«-/iW.'
is
[ 109 ]
is very promifing, and a favourite of mine already. I
had never feen nor heard from any one, that was con-
cerned for him, till I had the favour of yours; hut
as I had taken a particular notice of him on his own
account, I fhall now do it much more upon yours.
This will be brought to you by your kinfman, Mr,
Rclt. I am glad I can tell you, that he has behaved
himfelf very well here. He is not of the higheil fort,
but is very fober and indullrious, and will work out
his way, and, I believe, deferve any encouragement
you are pleafed to give him. Things are in an odd
pofture with us at prefent; and the ftate of banifli-
ment you are in, may be endured without much re-
gret; however, I fhall hope in a little time to fee you
here, when more of your friends are in town.
The bifhop * and my brother f are much yours,
and very defirous of a happy meeting v/ith you. Be-
fore this can be with you, you'll be able to gucfs how
foon that may happen. And may it be as foon as is
wifhed by, Sir, your moll obedient and faithful hum-
ble fervant, R. FRIEND.
LETTER CLXVir.
The Duchefs of O r m o n d to Dr. S v/ i f r.
s iR, oaob. 17, 1715.
1 WAS extremely pleafed to find you had not forgot
your friends, when it is fo hard for them to write to you,
* ' Dr. Fmicis Attcibury, biihop of Rochejler,*
t ' John FrkrJ, M. D.'
5 . and.
[ no ]
Bn^, by tlieir concern for you, putyou in mind of them.
But I find no misfortunes can leflen your frieiidfhip,
which is fo great, as to blind you of the fide of their
faults, and make you believe you fee virtues in them,
it were happy for them they enjoyed in any degree ;
for, I am fure^ fome of thofe you named are much
wanted at this time. I was, as you heard, very well
pleafed, that my friend * was fafe as to his perfon,
but very uneafy at feeing his reputation fo treated. As
to his fortune, it is yet in difpute. However, as
long as he is well, I am fatisfy'd. It is with difficulty
I do hear but no.v and then ; a ftraggling body brings
mc an account of him ; for there has been no en-
couragement to write by the poft, all letters mifcar-
rying, that either he or I have wrote that way, that
we have given it over now, and truft to accident for
the news of each other. I hope I ihall hear from you
oftner than I have done for fome months patt : for no
friend you have has more refpedl for you, than, your
^oll humble fet-vant,
M. ORMOND.
Your nisce Betty f is your humble fervant.
* The Duke, who being fufpeded of treafonable Piaflices, oi
slsfigns, went abroad.
■\ Her grace's daughter.
LET-
t ti» ]
LETTER CLXVIIL
Dr. Arbuthnot to Di% Swift.
DEARFRIEND, Ihdorfcd
'^ Received Dec, 2, 17155
1 HOPE this will find yoU in good health, and J
hope in greater tranquillity of mind, than when w6
ufed to lament together at your office for the eternal
faults of our friends I have feen the dragon thrice
iince I wrote to you. He is without fhadow of change |
the greatefl example of an unfhaken tranquillity of
mind, that ever I yet faw, feeming perfedlly well
fatisfied with his own conduft in every particular.
You know we have often faid, that there is but one
idragon in rerufn naturd. I don't know what he thinks^
but I am perfectly well fatisfiedj that there will not
be that one dragon X^hy if fome people have their
will. Haly Bajfa, they fay ftruggles for his fon- in-
law. It is generous and grateful. There is a prodi-
gious quarrel between him and the prefident about it**
I am not yet out, bat expe\Sl to be fooni Adieu.
I had almoft forgot to tell you of the Pretender's
declaration, in which there are words to this pur-
pofe : ' That he had no reafcn to doubt of the good
* intention of his filler, which was the reafoh that h&
* fat quiet in her time ; but now was difappointed by
* the deplorable accident of her fudden death*'
* ' The prefident of the €Ouacil, who at tfaat time was Dan'ul
Ctrl of Nottingham^
4 I, E T^
E 112 ]
LETTER CLXIX*.
Dr. A R B u T H N o T to Dr. S w i f r»
DEAR BROTHER,
1 SEND you the fcrap of a letter begun to you by
the whole fociety, becaufe I fuppofe you even value
the fragments of your friends. The honeft gentle-
man, at whofe lodgings we wrote, is gone for France.
1 really value your judgment extremely in chufing
your friends. I think worthy Mr. Ford is an inftance
of it, being an honeft, fenfible, firm, friendly man,
et qualis ah inceptu procejjerat, i^c.
Tho', by the way, praifmg your judgment is a lit-
tle compliment to myfelf, which I am apt to fall into
of late, no- body now being at the trouble of doing
it for me. The Parnellian, who was to have carried
this letter, feems to have changed his mind by fome
fudden turn in his affairs ; but I wi(h his hopes may
not be the effeft of fome accidental thing working
upon his fpirits, rather than any well-grounded pro-
jea.
If it be any pleafure to you, I can afiure you, that
you are remembered kindly by your friends, and I be-
lieve not altogether forgot by your enemies. I think
both is for your reputation. I am told, that I am to
lofe my little preferment : however, T hope to be able
to keep a little habitation warm in tov/H. I cannot
but fay, I think there is one thing in your circum-
ftancesj that mult make any man happy; which is, a
* Written en the fume Paper wit]i the laft,
liherty
[ 113 ]
uterfj to preach. Such a prodigious privilege, that If
it did not border upon fimony, I could really pur-
chafe It for a fum of money. For my part, I never
imagine any man can be uneafy, that has the oppor-
tunity of venting himfelf to a whole congtegaliofi
once a week. And you may pretend what you will,
I am fure you think fo too, or you don't judge right.
As for news, I never enquire about any. Fumius
Troes, ifc.
My prefent politics is to give no dlilurbance to the
prefent folks in the due exercife of their power, for
fear of forcing them to do very ftrange things, rather
than part with what they love fo v/ell. Untoward re-
ports in the country will make eledions dearer, which
I am forry for. The dragon^ I am afraid, will b^
ftruck at. Adieu, in hatte.
LETTER CLXX.
Duchefs of O R. M o N D to Dr. Swift.
, SIR, Jan. 23, 1715-16.
I OUR letter was a great while upon the road, be-
fore I had the good luck to have It ; and I think I was
happy, that it ever arrived here ; for It is the fecond
letter I have received out of Ireland in above {tytw
months. Either thofe few friends I have there are
afraid of taking notice of me, or my enemies won't
let me have the comfort of thinking I have any left
and therefore flop my letters. I give you a thoufand
thanks for fo kindly remembering an abfent friend. As
Vol. II. I yoH
you always think right, I don't wonder you are of the
opinion our friend* has not all his good offices very
well returned. But who live in this world, muflarm
themfelves with patience, andarefolution able to bear
ingratitude, reproach, poverty and afftiftions of all
kinds ; or fubmit to the difcipline oi Bedlafn.
I have not heard from my mafterfthefe many months.
I hope he is well, becaufe the good nature of the world
would take care I fliould hear, if he were othervvife%
The lady, you name in your letter, lives at her
houfe in Berkjhire. I can't entertain you with fo much
as the tittle-tattle of the town, having not feen it
thefe four months, nor fcarce any thing but froft and
ihow; which makes me converfe moft with robin-
redbreafls, that do me the favour to come in at the
windows to fee me. Your niece is your humble fer-
vant; but not well, having a rafh.
I believe by this time you wifh you had not pro-
voked me to write ; fince you are troubled with fo
long a fcroU from me ; who am, with great truth.
Sir, your moft fincere friend, and humble fervant.
* ' Probably the earl of Oxford!'
f « The duke of Ormond, her hulband,''
LET
f ns ]
LETTER CLXXI.
Bifhop Atterbury to Dr. S w i F t.
GOOD MR. DEAN, Bromley*, April 6, 1716.
JVl Y gout kept me Co long a prifoner at Wefiminjlcr
this winter, that I have fixed at Brofnhy this fpring
much fooner than ever I yet did, for which reafon my
meeting with Dr. Younger will be more difiicult, than
it would be, had I been ftill at the deanry f .
The heft (or rather the worfl) is, that I believe he
can fay nothing to you upon the matter, about which
you write, which will pleafe you. His deanry \ is
of the old foundation, and in all fuch foundations the
deans have no extraordinary power or privilege, and
are nothing more than refidentiaries, with a peculiar
corps belonging to them as deans ; the firft of the
chapter, but fuch, whofe prefence is not neceflary
towards the difpatch of any one capitular a£l, the
fenior relidentiary fupplying their abfence, in every
cafe, with full authority. Thus, I fay, the cafe ge-
nerally is in the old deanries, unlefs where the local
ftatutes may have exprefsly referved fome peculiar
power or privilege to the deans of thofe churches.
But none of them, I dare fay, have a negative, ei-
ther by common law, cullom, or local liatute. Thus
much to fhew you, that a nice fearch into the pecu-
* Bromley in Kent, where the bifhops of Rochefter have an epif-
copal palace.
f Of PP'cJlKtnf^er, which has long been connefted wiih the bi-
fnoinlc of Rochijler.
i ' Of Saiijbury:
I a Har
[ iiS J
liar rights of the dean of Sarum will be necdiers if
not mifchievous to you. The three deanries, which
I have had, are all of the new foundation, by ffi;;iry
VI H. or queen Elizabeth.
In the charters of all there is a claufe, impowcring'
the dean to make, punilh, and unmake all the offi-
cers. In the ftatutes of one of them (Carhjlc) the
dean's confent, in all graviores caufa, is made ex-
prefsly neceffary, and in the other two nothing from
the foundation of thofe churches ever pafTed the feal
ivithout the dean's /^//A/wr iirft written on the leafe,
patent, prefentation, i^c. which is a manifeft and
uncontefted proof of his negative. As to the power
of propofing, that I apprehend not to be exclufive to
the other members of the chapter. It is a point chiefly
of decency and convenience; the dean being the
principal perfon, and fuppofed beft to be acquainted
with the aifairs of the church, and in what order they
are fitteft to be tranfaaed; But if any one elfe of the
body will propofe any thing, and the reft of the
chapter will debate it, I fee not hov/ the dean can
hinder them, unlefs it be by leaving the chapter; and
that itfelf will be of no m®ment in churches, where
his abfence doth not break up and diffolVe the chap-
ter ; as it does, where his confent to any thing there
treated of is exprefsly required before it can pafs into-
»n aft. Where, indeed, he is allowed fuch a nega-
tive, he is generally allowed to make all propofais i
bccaufe it would be to no purpofe for any one to make
a j)ropofition, which he can quafli by a difTent : but
this is not, I fay, a matter of right, hut prudsnce.
Upon
I 1^7 ]
•Upon the whole, the beft advice I can give you, is,
whatever your powers are by ftatute or ufage, not to
infift on them too ftri(ftly in either of tlie cafes men-
tioned by you, unlefs you are very fure of the favour
and countenance of your vifitor. The lawyers, you
will find, whenever fuch points come before them for
•a decifionj arc very apt to difregard ilatutcs and cu-
fiom in fuch cafes j and to fay, tliat their books
jnake the ail of the majoVity of the corporation the
legal a.d: of the body, without confidering, whether
the dean be among the minority or no. And there-
fore your utmofl dexterity and addrefs will be necef-
lary, in order to prevent fuch a trial of your right at
•common law; which, it is ten to one, (efpecially as
things now Hand) will go againll you. If the refrac-
tory part of your chapter are flout, and men of any
.fenfe, or fupported underhand, (the lall of thefe is
Jiighly probable) you had better make ufe of expc-
4ients to decline the ditFiCulty, than bring it at pre-
sent to a decifion. Thefe are the bell lights, and this
the beft advice, I can give you, after a long expe-
Tience.of the natural confequence of fuch flruggles,
and a careful fearch into the foundation of the powers
and privileges claimed and dlfputed on the one fide
and the other. I wilh I could fay any thing more to
your fatisfaftlon, but I cannot; and I thinjc, in all
fuch cafes, the beft inftance I can give you of my
friendfhip, is not to deceive you.
There is a ftatute in the latter end of king He»ry
the eighth's reign worthy of your perufal. The title
of it relates to the lea/es of hojptah, &c.. and the te-
l 3 nof
[ 118 ]
nor of" it did, in my apprehenfion, feem always to
imply, that, without the dean, mafter, ^'c. nothing
could be legally done by the corporation. But the
lawyers will not allow this to be good dodlrine,
and fay, that llatnte (notwithltanding a conftant
phrafe of it) determines nothing of this kind, and, at
the moft, implies it only as to fuch deanries, if^c.
where the dean, mafter, t^c. have the right of a ne-
gative, by ftatute or ufage. And few lawyers there
are, who will allow even thus much. I cannot
explain myfelf farther on that head ; but, when you
perufe the ftatute, you will fee what I mean; though,
after all, it does not, I believe. Include Ireland. How-
ever, I look upon it as a declaration of the common
law here in England.
I am forry you have any occafion to write to
me on thefe heads, and much forrier, that I am not
able to give you any tolerable account of them. God
forgive thofe, who have furnifhed me with this know-
ledge, by involving me defignedly into thofe fquab-
bles. I thank God, I have forgiven them.
I will enter into nothing but the enquiries of
your letter, and therefore add not a word more, ei-
ther in EngUjh or Latin, but that I am, with great
eileem, good Mr. Dean, your very affeftionate hum-
ble fervant, FR. R Of FEN,
LET.
[ '19 ]
LETTER CLXXII.
Lady BoLiNCBROKE*to Dr- S \v i ft.
DEAR .SIR, London, Aug 4, 17 16.
1 WISH your lafthad found me in the country, bur,
to my misfortune, I am ftill kept in town, foliciting
my unfortunate bufmefs. I have found great favour
from his majefly. But form is a tedious thing to wait
upon. Since 'tis my fate, I mull bear it with patience,
and perfect it, if I can ; for there is nothing like fol-
lowing bufinefs one's felf. I am unwilling to ftir
without the feals, which I hope to have foon. I have
been very ill; this place never agreeing with me, and
lefs now than ever, it being prodigious hot weather.
I know not what to fay as to one part of yours ;
only this, that you will forgive the fears of a woman,
if Ihe fays Ihe is glad it is as it is, though it has al-
moft ruined her. I hope, one time or other, his ma-
jefty will find my lord has been mifreprefented ; and,
'by that means, he may be reftored to his country
once more with honour r or el fe, however harlh it may
found out of my mouth, 1 had rather wear black.
Thefe are my real fentiments. I never thought my-
felf, nor my health, of any confequence till lately ;
and fince you tell me 'tis fo to the unworthy, as you
pleafe to term it, I fhall take care of it : for the wor-
tliy, which I once thought fo, they are good for no-
thing, but to negleft dillrciled friends. Thofe few
* * Frames, firrt wife of the lord vifcount Bdinghroke, and daugh-
ter »f Sii- Jlcnry fyjr.cbcoint, of Bucklehurf, in Berks.''
I 4 friends
[ 120 ]
friends I meet with now, are worth a thoufand rela-
tions : that I foand long ago. We have the happi-
nefs of odd, half-witted relations, and filly, obfti-
nate, opiniatre friends, that are a fevere plague to
me. I never could have the pleafure of talking one
moment to the d of O — >— *. She had al-
ways company, and forne, that I wilh fhe had not.
She is now out of town, and we do not correspond at
prefent. I wilh her all happinefs, and in better hands
a^ to herbufinefs. You have a much better opinion
of me than I deferve ; but I will ftudy all I can to
merit that favour, v.'hich you are kind to affiire me of.
I wifh it v/ere poffible for us two to meet, that I
might afTure you, in perfon, that am yours moft
faithfully.
P. S. Yours came fafe. I hope this wif to you.
There is a lady, who never forgets you, and a parti-
cular friend to me, and has been a great comfort to
me in my trouble ; I mean my tenant : ihe is now ia
the country, to my grief,
LETTER CLXXIIL
Duchefs of Or MONO to Dr. Swift.
SIR, Sept. 14, 1716.
1 HAD the ill fortune to mifs of that letter you up-
braid me with. 1 had defer ved any reproaches you
could make me, if it had come to my hands, and I
not made due acknowledgments for your iBq^uiries
* ' Duchefs of Omtind,\
after
t 121 1
after me. I'll make you wifh you'd not been To angry
with me; for I will fcrawl out myfelf, what you'd ra-
ther Betty or my maid had, for they would have made
Shorter work of it; but I will anfwer every part of
yours, that you obliged me with by Mr. Ford.
Firft, as to the lady you mention, the rcafon I had
not feen her in a great while was, my being in the
country. To tell you the truth, I believe her hulbanri
has been a better coartier, than either Ihe, or any of
her fex could be ; becaufe mien have it in their power
to fcrve, and i believe hers has effedtually done what
lay in him.
You kindly aCc how my affairs go. There is yet
no end of them, and God only knows when there
wili be. For when every thing was thought done, a
fudden blafl had blown all hopes away, and then they
give me Frefti expeftations. In the mean time, I am
forced to live upon the borrow; my goods all taken,
away; that I Ihan'thave fo much as a bed to lie upon,
but what I muft buy ; and no money of my ovv-n to
do that with ; fo that you m.ay imagine me iu a chear-
fal way. I pray God fupport me.
The gentleman you enquired after is very well now.
The illnefs you heard he had, he has been fubjeft to
a good while. What you defire, I wiih were in the
power of either his brother or I ; but all will go from
both of us of every kind. Only they fay, that the
cloaths upon my back I may perhaps call my own,
and that's all. I was obliged to leave the country.
I was fo ill there, that, if I had not come to the
phyficians, I can't tell what might have happened.
4 My
[ 122 ]
My daughter is your moll humble fervant, and is
pretty well in health.
Am not I one of my word, and troubled you twice
as long as you'd have wifn'd r But you'll find by this,
that a woman's pen fliould no more be fet at work
than her tongue; for (lie never knows when to let
either of 'em reft. But my paper puts me in mind,
that I have but juft room to tell you I wjlh nmch to
fee you here, if it could be with your fatisfaclion ;
and that I am, with great fincerity, Sir, your faith-
ful humble fervant, M. ORMOND.
LETTER CLXXIV.
Lord BOLING BROKE to Dr. S W 1 I T .
Odlob. 23, 1716.
1 T is a very great truth, that, among all the lofies,
which I have fuftained, none afFefted me more fenfi-
bly than that of your company and correfpondence ;
and yet, even now, I ftiould not venture to write to
you, did not you provoke me to it. A commerce of
letters between two men, who are out of the world,
and who do not care one farthing to return into it
again, muft be of little moment to the ftate; and yet
1 remember enough of that world, to know, that the
moft innocent things become criminal in fome men,
as the moft crim.inal pafs applauded in others.
Your letter breathes the fame fpirit as your conver-
fation at all times infpired, even when the occafions
of praclifing the fevereft rules of virtuous fortitude
feemed
feetned mofl remote, if fuch occafions could ever feem
remote to men, who are under the dircdion of your
able and honeft friend SirRo^er*.
To write about myfelf is no agreeable tafk, but
your commands are fufHcient at once to determine and
excufe me. Know therefore, that my health is far
better than it has been a great while ; that the mo-
ney, which I brought over with me will hold out
feme time longer; and that I have fecured a fniall
fund, which v/ill yield in any part of the world a re-
venue fufficient for one, qui peut h rstrencher meme avec
plaijir dam la mcdiocrite. I ufe a French exprefGon, be-
caufe I have not one, that pleafcs me, ready in En-
glijh. During feveral months after my leaving that
obfcure retreat, into which I had thrown myfelf laft
year, I went through all the mortifying circumftances
imaginable. At prefent I enjoy, as far as I confider
myfelf, great complacency of mind; but this in-
ward fatisfaftion is imbitteied, when I coniider. the
condition of my friends. They are got into a dark
hole, where they grope about after blind guides;
Humble from miftake to millake ; jofile againll one
another, and dafli their heads againfl the wall ; and
all this to no purpofe. For affure yourfelf, that there
is no returning to light ; no going out, but by going
back. My ftile is myftic, but it is your trade to deal
in myfterics, and therefore I add neither comment nor
• Sir Rogir is tiie name given to lord trfafurer Oxford, in the
hifio y of yohn Bull. As Bolingbroke is known to have haled and
dcfpifcd the trcafurcr, the vvo.ds able and hone^ muft be taken
ironically,
cxcufc.
[ 124 ]
excufe. You will underfland me ; and I conjure yoa
to be perfuaded, that if I could have half an hour's
converfation with you, for which I would barter whole
hours of life, you would flare, haul your whig, and
bite paper more than ever you did in your life*.
Adieu, dear friend; may the kindeft influence of hea-
ven be Ihed upon you. Whether we may ever meet
again, that heaven only knows ; if we do, what mil-
lions of thinp-s fhall we have to talk over ! In the
o
mean while, believe, that nothing fits fo near my heart
as my country and my friends ; and that among thefe
you ever had, and ever fhall have, a principal place.
If you write to me, dired A Monjleur Chariot, chez
Jlfc»/f^«r Cantillon, banquier^ rut de V Arbrefec\ . Once
more adieu.
LETTER CLXXV.
Charles Ford, Efcj; to Djt. Swift.
SIR, Palis, Oa. aS, 1716,
X F I was to fee you again, you v/ould give twice as
much as you ofl'ered fix weeks ago not to have feen
xne. By the fame rule, you might afford fomething
not to hear from me ; but the inclofed came this
morning to me, and I could not fend it away, with-
out addin"- a few lines in the cover. They are not X.Q
put you again into the fpleen, but only to afk how
j'ou do, and how you employ yourfelf? Do the great
• This is a ftrong pifturc of Sivift^s manner,
■f The name of a ftrcet in Paris,
defigns
C 12; J
d^fi<Tns go on at Laracor* ? Or have the rains put a ftop
to your improvements, as well as to my journey ? It
will coft you but a penny, and a few minutes, to an-
6ver tlielc queftions ; and, in return, you Ihall know
any thing you defire to know of me in my travels. I
(hall go on as foon as we have five or fix days days fun-
fhine to dry the roads, and make the finell countiy
in the world fupportable. I am laughed at here,
when I talk of travelling, and yet of waiting for fair
weather; but to me the journey is the greateil part of
the pleafure. And whereas my companion is conti-
nually wifhing himfelf at Rams, I v/ilh Romt was a
thoufand leagues farther, that I might have more
way to pafs in France and Italy.
If you will do me the favour to write to me, dir«(^
to be left with Mr. Cantillon, banker, in Paris.
I am, i2e*,.
LETTER CLXXVI.
Erasmus Lewis Efq; to Dr. Swift,
SIR, London, Jan. 11, 1716-17.
About two months ago I fent you a very long
cpiftle, and was in hopes you would either have
made us a vlfit, or have let us heard from you. Since
you have done neither, we mud flatter ourfelves, that
you will be better the new year than the former.
Our friend Prior, not having had the viciffitude of
human things before his eyes, is likely to end his
The Dean's living,
days
C 1^6 3
days In as forlorn a ftate as any other poet has dont
before him> if his friends do not take more care of
him than he did of himfelf. Therefore, to prevent
the evil, which we fee is coming on very faft, we
have a projeft of printing his Solomon, and other poe-
tical works, by fubfcription ; one guinea to be paid
in hand, and the other at the delivery of the book.
He, Arbuthnot, Pope and Gay, are now with me,
and remember you. It is our joint requcft, that you
will endeavour to procure fome fubfcriptions : you
will give your receipts for the money you receive,
and when you return it hither, you ftiall have others
in lieu. There are no papers printed here, nor any
advertifements to be publifhed ; for the whole matter
is to be managed by friends in fuch a manner, as
fhall be leaft Ihocking to the dignity of a plenipotea-
tiary.
I am told the archblfhop of Dublin Ihevvs a letter
of yours, reflefting on the high-fiying clergy. I fanfy
you have writ to him in an ironical Jiik, and that he
would have it otherwife underftood. This will bring
to your mind v/hat I have formerly faid to you on that
figure. Pray condefcend to explain this matter to me.
The removal of my lord To^zi-njhcnd has given a little
fpirit ; but that will foon flag, if the king, at his
return, does not make farther changes. What mea-
fures his majefly will take is uncertain ; but this we
are very fure of, that the divifion of the whigs is fo
great, that, morally fpeaking, nothing but another
rebellion can ever unite them. Sunderland, Stanhope
and Cadcga?i are of one fide ; To'wnpend., Walpole^
Oxford-,
[ 157 1
Qxfocf, DcvcnJJ.-'in, and the chancellor*, of tlie other.
The latter feem at prefent to be ftrongeft ; but when
the former appear with aGermau rei n forcement, they will
undoubtedly turn the balance. They are both mak-
ing their court to the tories, who, I hope, will be a
body by themfelves, and not ferve as recruits to either
of theotlier two. Lord Toivnj7jef!(rs friends give out,
that his difgrace is owing to refufing four things, -v/z.
to keep up the army ; repeal the limitations of the
fucceffion-a6l ; to fend money to Germany for carrying
on a war againft S^weden ; and to attaint lord Oxford.
When lord Sunderla-nd \ comes over, he will proba-
bly cry ivhore again, and endeavour to faddle lord
Tonvnjhend in his turn. For thefe reproaches now are
like that of 'Jacohitij'm in former reigns. Wc are told,
that lord Bolinghroke has permiffion to flay in Francty
notwithftanding the late treaty, provided he retire*
from Paris. I am, ^c.
LETTER CLXXVn.
Erasmus Lewis, Efq; to Dr. Swift.
SIR, London, June 15, 1717.
J_/AST night I received yours of the 5th inftant;
and fince you tell me I am your only correfpondent,
I think I ought to be the more punctual in my returns,
* ' WiU'iam carl Citvper.''
t ' By whofe intrigues the lord vifcount tmviijkend hzA been
removed from the port of fecretary of ftate, which was g4ven to
'James Stanhope, afterwards earl Stanhope,''
5 and
f Ji8 J
and the more full in what relatei to our friends Kerei
You'll fee by the public prints, that Monday nex£
come fe'ennjght is appointed for the trial of my lord
Oxford^ and that no lefs that Cx-and-twenty doughty-
members are appointed to manage it. The lords have
likewife fettled the whole forms of the proceedings.
My lord has alked, that two lawyers more might bft
added to his council : yet is all this but a farce ; fot
there is not a creature living, who thinks he will ever
be tried j for they publicly own, that the7 neither
have, nor ever had, any evidence ; and laugh at im-
peachments, and attainders, and party-gambols ;
and fay, that all people deferve to be fo pun'ifhed,
who prefume to difpoffefs the whigs of their Indefea-
fible right to the adminilhation. But fmce he is nat
to be tried, the next quellion is. In what manner is
he to be brought off, fo as to fave the honour of his
profecutors ? I think it will be by an aft of grace'.
Others fay, it will be by the commons afking more
time, and the lords of their party agreeing to refufe
it. But as we are wholly ignorant of their intentions,
it is poffible neither of thefe gueffes may be right, and
that they may keep him yet another year in prifon ;
which my lord Marlhoicugh feems paJTionately to ds-
fir^
. We labour here under all the difadvantages in th%
world in every refpeft j for the tide of party runs ftill
very ibong every where, but in no place more than in
M'eJlmit-Jier-haU. Thofe on this fide, whofe honour
and intereft both require, that all people, who pay
obedience, ihould be protefled, fecm to want a capa-
wt/
tity to govern ; and the firailitude of circumftances
between the * and the regent render the latter
a firm ally, contrary to the natural intereft of France,
Thus we are fecure from any foreign enemy.
I agree with you, that Shape's letter f is really but
a letter, and that it is much too fliort and too flight for
fuch a fubjeft. However, his merit was great, in being
the firft to give the alarm to his brethren, and fetting
himfelf in the front of the battle againft his adverfa^
lies. In thofe refpefts, his letter has had its full effect.
I defire you will be as quick as you can in the
affiftance you intend Prior ; for thofe, who fubfcribed.
here, are impatient to have their books ; and we can-
not keep it off much longer, without pafTmg for
common cheats. Dr. Arhiithnot, and Mr. Charleton,
and I, remember you often. Lady Majloam always
afks for you very affedionately. By the way, I am
perfectly reflored to grace there, and am invited to
their houfe in the country, as foon as lord Oxford^
affair is over, I intend to go amongft my friends in
the country, not to return hither till about Michael-
mas. But if you'll direiEl to me at my houfe in town,
your letters will be conveyed to me, where-ever I
am. Mr. Rocbfort X feems to have a great many good
* * King fliould probably fill the blank.'
\ ' To the bifhop of Bangor, Dr. Hcadlcy, cccafior.ed by his
lordfhip's f?rmon preached before the king, on March 31, IJIJ^
concerning the nature of the k'lngd.m and church of Chrifi.'
\ The Dean was intimate with a family of this name in Le-
land, and, among his works, is a poem, called, The Country Life,
written while he was fpending part of a fummer at the houfe of
Ceorge Roihfort, Efqj fon o( the lord chief baron of that name.
Vol. II, K qualities,
[ 133 ]
qualities, and I am heartily glad he has met with
fuccefs. Adieu.
LETTER CLXXVIII.
Erasmus Lewis, Efq; to Dr. S w i f r.
SIR, London, June i8, 1717.
Jri AVING acquainted you in my letter of laft port,
that it was the univerfal opinion the commons would
not proceed to the trial of my lord Oxford, I think
myfelf obliged to tell you, that we begin now to be
fomething doubtful ; for the managers, who are
twenty-feven In number, frrenuoufly give out, that
they fliall be ready to proceed on Monday next. There-
fore, if you have any thoughts of coming over, let
not any thing, which I have faid in my laft, have any.
weight with you to alter that refolution. I am wholly
taken up with the men of the law, and therefore have
nothing to fay to you at prefent upon any public mat-
ters. I fhall only juft trouble you with one word re-
lating to a private affair. My brother is chaplain to
^\x Charles Hoiharns regiment, which is now ordered
to Ireland. If you could find any young fellow, who
would buy that commiffion, my brother thinks his
patron, my lord CarliJIe, will eafily prevail with my
lord duke'of 5c//o;; for leave to difpofe of it. I fhould
be very glad you could find him a chapman.
LET-
[ 131 ]
LETTER CLXXIX.
Erasmus Lewis, Efq; to Dr. Swift.
SIR, London, July i, 1717.
J HAVE the pleafure to infofm you, that lord Ox-
ford's impeachment was difcharged laft night, by the
unanimous confent of all the lords prefent ; and, as
nearly as I could count, their number was one hun-
dred and fix, the duke of Marlborough, my lord Ca-
dogati, lord Coningjby, and a few others of the moft
violent, having withdrawn themfelves before the lords
came into Wejlminfier-hall. The acclamations were as
great as upon any occaflon ; and our friend, who
feems more formed for adverfity than profperity, has
at prefent many more friends, than ever he had be-
fore, in any part of his life. I believe he will not
havd the fewer, from a meflage he received this
morning from the K , by my lord chamberlain,
to forbid him the court. You know the profecution
was at firft the refentment of a party ; but it became
at laft a ridiculous bufmefs, weakly carried on by the
impotent rage of a woman ; I mean, of my lady
Marlhorcugh, who is almoft diftracled, that fhe could
not obtain her revenge.
I aril now going out of town, with an intention to
roll about from place to place, till about Michaelmas
next. Direfl to me hither as ufual, and your letter
will be conveyed to me wherever I am.
Dr. Arhuthnot, Mr. CharUwi, and Mr. Currey,
have dined with me to«*iay, and you have not been
K 2 forgot.
forgot. I was in hopes we Ihould have feen you ere
this. The doftor fays, you wait for the a£l of grace.
If fo, I hope to fee you by next winter. I am, ^c.
LETTER CLXXX.
Mr. Prior, to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, Weftm. July 30, 1717.
1 HAVE the favour of four letters from, you, of the
ninth, thirteenth, fixteenth, and twentieth inftant.
They all came fafe to me, however varioufly diredled.
I find myfelf equally comforted by your philofophy,
and affilled by your friendfhip. You will eafily ima-
gine, that I have an hundred things to fay to you,
which for as many reafons I omit, and only touch
upon that bufinefs, to which, in the pride of your
heart, you give the epithet forry*. I return you the
names of thofe, who were kind enough to fubfcribe,
that you may fee, if they are rightly fpelt, as like-
wife the right titles put to them, tf^c I am fenfible
this has given you too much trouble, but it is too late
now to make an apology. Let Mr. Levjis, who is now
with me, do it for me, at what time, and in what
manner, he pleafes. I take it for granted, that what-
ever I write, as whatever is writ to me, will be broke
open; fo you'll expeft nothing from me, but what
you may have as particularly from the Pojl-boy. We
are all pretty well in health. I have my old whorefon
* Subfciiptions for Mr. PWo/s poems, procured by the Dean,
The fubfcription was two guineas,
5 cough,
T 133 1
cough, and I think I may call it mine for life. The
carl * is femper idem. Lord Harley is in the country.
Our brotherhood is extremely difperfed ; but fo as that
we haV'^e been three or four times able to get as many
of the fociety together, and drink to our abfent
friends. I have been made to believe, that we may
fee your reverend perfon this fummer in England: if
fo, I fh^U be glad to meet you at any place ; but,
when you come to London, do not go to the Cocoa-
^ree, (as you fent ybur letter) but come immediately
to Duke-Sireet, where you fhall find abed, a book,
and a candle : fo pray think of fojourning no where
elfe. Pray give my fervice to all friends in general.
I think, as you have ordered the matter, you have
made the greater part oi Irelatid lift themfelves under
that number. I do not know how you can recompenfe
them, but by coming over to help me to corre<St the
book, which I promife them.
You will pardon my having ufed another hand,
fince it is fo much better than my own ; and, believe
me, ever with greatefl truth, dear Sir, yours,
M. PRIOR.
LETTER CLXXXL
Earl of O X F o R D to Dr. Sw i f t.
Aug. 6, 1717.
X. WO years retreat has made me tafte the converfa-
tlon of my dearefl friend with a greater relilh, than
» Of Oxford.
K 3 fvei
T m ]
ever at the time of my being charmed with it in our
frequent journeys to Wind/or. Three of your letters
have come fafe to my hands. The iirft about two
years fince: that my fon keeps as a family monu-
ment. The other two arrived fince the firft of July. My
heart is often with you, but I delayed writing in ex-
pedlation of giving a perfect anfvver about my going
to Bramptcn ; but the truth is, the warmtji of re-
joicing in thofe parts is fo far from abating, that I
am perfuaded by my friends to go into Camhridge-
Jl:ire, where you are too juft not to believe you will be
welcome before any one in the world. The longing your
friends have to fee you muft be fubmitted to the judg-
ment yourfelf makes of all circumfiances. At prefent
this feems to be a cooler ciimate, than your ifland is
like to be, when they affemble, ^c. Our impatience
to fee you fhould not draw you into uneafinefs. We
long to embrace you, if you find it may be of no in-
convenience to yourfelf.
O X F O R D=
LETTER CLXXXII.
Mr. Prior to Dr. S w i f t.
Heathrop, Aug. 24, 1717.
i OURS, my good friend, of the fixth, finds me in
Oxfordjhire with the duke of Shrei^Jbury, which
would fooner have been acknowledged, had it flayed in
Londen. Before I left that pious city, I made due en-
quiries into the methods aud regularity of your cor-
3 refpondence
[ 13.' ]
refpDncIenc; \\lth tae earl*. He has received you/
Letters; he will anfwer them, but not to-day, Jicu
olim. Nothing can change him. I can get no pofi-
tlve anfwer from him, nor can any man elfe ; fo trou-
ble yourfelf no more on that head than he does. He
is ftill in LorJgn^ and poffibly has anfwered you; while
I am a little arraigning his negled, but in all cafes
liber a'vi animam meam,
I wifti you were in England, that you might a little
look over the ftrange ftufF, that I am to give our
friends for their money. I fhall be angry, if you are
near and not with me ; but when I fee you, that
weighty queftion mayeafily be decided. In the meaa
time, I am taking your good counfel, and will be in
the country as much as I can.
You have found two miftakes in the lift, but have
not correfted them. I prefume we fhall have it of the
beft edition, when you fend the lift back again; of
which, I fay, no hafte is required.
Give my fervice and thanks to all friends ; referve
only to yourfelf the afturance of my being, beyond
expreffioB, my friend, yours,
M. PRIOR.
• Of Oxford,
K 4 LET-
C 136 3
LETTER CLXXXrir.
Mr. Addison to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, March 20; 1717-1?.
Multiplicity of bufmefs, and a long dange-
rous fit of ficknefs, prevented me from anfwering the
obliging letter you honoured me with fome time fince :
■but, God be thanked, I cannot "make ufe of either of
thefe excufes at prefent, being entirely free both of
my office * and my afthma. 1 dare not however ven-
ture myfelf abroad yet, but have fent the contents of
your laft to a friend of mine (for he is very much fo,
tho' he is my fuccefor f) who I hope will turn it to
the advantage of the gentleman whom you mention.
I know you have fo much zeal and pleafure in doing
kind offices for thofe you wifh well to, that I hope you
reprefent the hardihip of the cafe in the ftrongeft co-
lours, that it can poffibly bear. However, as I al-
ways honoured you for your good-nature, which is a
very odd quality to celebrate in a man, who has ta-
lents fo much more fhining in the eyes of the world, I
fhould be glad, if I could ^ny way concur with-you,
in putting a flop to what you fay is now in agitation.
I muft here condole with you upon the lofs of that
excellent man, the bifhop of Derry J, who has fcarce
left behind him his equal in humanity, agreeable con-
* * Of fecretary of ftate, which poft Mr. j^ddifon refigned on
the 14th of March, 1717-18, and had a penfion granted him of one
thoufand five hundred pounds a year,*
f * James Craggs, Efq;'
X 'Dr. Narcijh Marjb.*
verfation.
[ 137 1
verfatlon, and all kinds of learning. We have often
talked of you with great pleafure ; and, upon this
occafion, I cannot but rcflefl upon myfelf, who, at
the fame time that I omit no opportunity of exprefllng
my efleem for you to others, have been fo negligent
in doing it to yourfelf. I have feveral times taken
up my pen to write to you, but have been always in-
terrupted by fome impertinence or other; and, to
tell yod unrefervedly, I have been unwilling to an-
fwer fo agreeable a letter, as that I received from
you, with one written in form only ; but I mull ftill
have continued filent, had I deferred writing, till I
could have made a fuitable return. Shall we never
again talk together in laconic ? Whenever you fee
Evgland, your company will be the moll acceptable
in the world at Holland-houfe, where you are highly
efteemed by lady Warwick, and the young lord,
though by none any where more than by. Sir, your
moll: faithful and moll obedient humble fervant,
J. ADDISON.
LETTER CLXXXIV.
Lord H A R L E Y to Dr. S w i f t.
April 12, 171S,
His lordfhip writes to the Dean, that he hopes to
fee him at Wimple this year : that lord Oxford was
well, and talked of going into Herefordjhirc. Fie adds,
your filler is obliged to go to Bath, prefents her hum-
ble fervice, and defires you to accept of a little etuy.
I beg
[ 138 ]
I beg you will not deny me the favour to take the
fnufF-box, which comes along with it, to fupply the
place of that, which was broke by accident feme
time ago. I am, with true refpeft, your moft hum-
ble fervant, and brother, HARLEY.
LETTER CLXXXV.
Mr. Prior to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, May i, 1718.
Ji- PRETTY kind of amufcment I have been en-
gaged in ; comma's, femicolons, italics, and capitals,
to make nonfenfe more pompous, and furbelow bad
poetry with good printing. My friends letters, in
the mean time, have lain unanfwered ; and the obli-
gations I have to them, on account of the very book
itfelf, are unacknowledged. This is not all ; I rcufl:
beg you once more to transfer to us an intire lift of
jny fubfcribers, with their diftinft titles, that they-
may, for my honour, be printed at the beginnino- of
ray book. This will eafily be done by reviftno- the
lift, which we fent to you. I muft pray of you, 'that
it may be cxaft,
E — of O * has not at all difappointed my
expedations. He is Jhnper idem, and has as much
bnfmefs to do now, as when he was governing £»<?-
la/rd, or impeached for treafon. He is flill in town,
but going in a week or ten days into Herefordjlire.
Lord and lady Haikj are at the Bath, and as foon as
* Lord Oxfiri^
\ fhill
[ '39 ]
I fhall have fettled my affairs of the printing- prefs,
(fad buJinefs ! as you very well call it) I (hall go into
the country to them.
My health, I thank you, is pretty good. My
courage better. I drink very often to your health,
with fome of our friends here ; and am always, with
the greatefl truth and afFe^ion, dear Sir, your obliged
and moll obedient fervant,
M. PRIOR.
LETTER CLXXXVI.
Mr. Prior to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, May 29, 171S.
1 HAVE received yours of the fixth, with the lift
correfled. I have two colon and comma men. We
correal and defign to publifli, as faft as the nature of
this great or forry work, as you call it, will bear;
but we Ihall not be out before Chrifima:, fo that our
friends abroad may compleat their coUeftion till Mi-
chaelmas, and be returned foon enough to have their
names printed and their books got ready for them.
I am going to-morrow morning to the Bath, to
meet lord Harley there. I fhall be back in a month.
1 he earl of Oxford is ftill here. He will go into Here-
fordjhire fome time in June. He fays he will write to
you himfelf. /^m I particular enough ? Is this profe?
And do I diftinguiih tenfes ? I have nothing more to
tell you, but that you are the happieft man in the
world ; and, if you are once got into la bagatdle-,
you
[ HO ]
you may defpife the world, Befides contriving em-
blems, fuch as Cupids, torches, and hearts for great
letters, 1 am now unbinding two volumes of printed
heads, to have them bound together in better order
than they were before. Don't you envy me ? For the
reft, Matters continue ficut olhn. I will not tell yoa
how much I want you, and 1 cannot tell you how well
I love you. Write to me, my dear Dean, and give
. xny fervice to all our friends. Yours, ever,
M. PRIOR.
LETTER CLXXXVII.
Mr. Prior to Dr. Swifj".
MY DEAR DEAN, London, Sept, 25, ijiS.
1 HAVE now made an end of what you, in your
haughty manner, call wretched work. My book is
quite printed off; and if you are as much upon the
hogatelle-, as you pretend to be, you will find more
pleafure in it than you imagine. We are going to
print the fubfcribers names : if, therefore, you have
any by you, which are not yet remitted, pray fend
them over by the next poll. If you have not, pray
fend me word of that too j that, in all cafes, I may at
leal!: hear from you. E — of O has been in
town all this fummer, is now going into HerefordjhirCy
and fays he fhall fee you very foon in England. I
would tell you with what pleafure this would be, if I
knew upon what certainty the hopes of it were found-
ed. Write me werd of this too j for upon it I would
order
[ HI ]
order my matters fo, that I may be as much with you
as I can; and this you will find no little favour: for
I afTure you we are all fo changed, that there is very
Uttle choice of fuch company as you would like; and,
except about eighteen hundred, that have fubfcribed
to my book, I do not hear of as many more in this
nation, that have common fenfe. My coufin Penn)-
father, and Will. Phillips, drink your health. I cough,
but am otherwife well ; and till I ceafe to cough, /. (?.
to live, I am, with entire friendflilp and afFe<flion,
dear Sir, your moll obedient and humble fervant,
M. PRIOR.
LETTER CLXXXVlir.
Mr. Addison to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, Briftol, Ofl. i, 1718.
1 HAVE received the honour of your letter at Brif-
tol, where I have juft finifhed a courfe of water-drink-
ing, which I hope has pretty well recovered me from
the leavings of my lafl: winter's ficknefs. As for the
fubjeft of your letter, tho' you knov/ an affair of that
nature cannot well nor fafely be trufted in writing,
I defired a friend of mine to acquaint Sir Ralph Gore^
that I was under a pre-engagement, and not at my
own choice to a£l in it, and have fmce troubled my
lady AJhe with a letter to the fame effeft, which I
hope has not mifcarrled. However, upon my return
to Louditi, I will farther enquire into that matter, and
fee
[ 142 ]
fee, if there is any room left for me to negociatc as
you propofe.
I live ftill in hopes of feeing you in England, and if
you would take my houfe at Bilton in your way,
(which lies upon the road within a mile of Rugby)
I would ftrain hard to meet you there, provided you
would make me happy in your company for fome days.
The greatefl: pleafure I have met with for fomc
months, is in the converfation of my old friend Dr,
Stnalridge, who, fmce the death of the excellent man
you mention, is to me the moft candid and ao-ree-
able of all bifhops ; I would fay clergymen, were not
deans comprehended under that title. We have of-
ten talked of you ; and when I afi"ure you he has an
exqulfjte tafte of writing, I need not tell you how
he talks on fiich a fubjeft. I look upon it as my
good fortune, that I can exprefs my efteem of you,
even to thofe, who are not of the bifhop's party,
without giving offence. When a man has fo much
compafs in his characler, he affords his friends topics
enough to enlarge upon, that all fides admire. I am
fure a zealous friendly behaviour dillinguifhes you
as much as your many more fhining talents; and as
I have received particular inftances of it, you muft
have a very bad opinion of me, if you do not think
I heartily love and refpeft you; and that I am ever,
dear Sir, your moll obedient, and moll humble fer-
vanf,
J. ADDISON.
L E T^
[ H3 ]
LETTER CLXXXIX.
Dr. A R B u T H N o T to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, London, Oa. 14, 171S.
1 HIS ferves for an envelope to the inclofed ; for
1 cannot tell whether you care to hear fiom any of
your frieiKls on this fide. In your lafl, I think, you
defired me to let you alone to enjoy yoor own fpleen.
Can you purchafe your fifty pounds a year in Wales?
Yet I can tell you beforehand, Lc-ivis fcorns to
live with you there. He keeps company with the
greateft, and is principal governor in many families.
I have been in France;, fix weeks at Paris, and as
much at Rouen-, v/here, I can aflTure you, I hardly-
heard a word of news or politics, ex'cept a little clut-
ter about fending fome impertinent prefidents du par-
liament to prifon, that had the impudence to talk for
the laws and liberties of their country. I was afked
for Monfieur 5xv//> by many people, I can afTure you;
and particularly by the duke d'' Aumont. I was re-
fpedlfully and kindly treated- by many folks, and
even by the great Mr. La%vs *. Amongil other things,
I had the honour to carry an Irijh lady f to court,
that was admired beyond all the ladies in France for
* The contriver of the Mijpjpfpi fcheme.
-f The celebrated beauty Mil's Nelly Benm:, on whom thife
lines were written.
For when as Nrlly came to France,
(Invited by her coufins)
. Ac'ofs the Tuillerhi, each glance
Kill'd Trer.chmen by whole doze/is.
The
r 144 1
her beauty. She had great honours done her. The
huflar himfelf was ordered to bring her the king's cat
to kifs. Her name is Betittet. Amongft other folks
I faw your old friend lord Bolhigbroke, who afked for
you. He looks juft as he did. Your friends here are
in good health ; not changed in their fentiments to-
wards you. I left my two girls in France with their
uncle, which was my chief bufinefs. I don't know,
that I have any friends on your fide, befides Mr,
Ford, to whom give my fervice, and to Dr. Parnell
and Mr. Jer'voife.
If it be poflible for you, obey the contents of the
inclofed ; which, I fuppofc is a kind invitation. The
dragon is juft as he was, only all his old habits ten
times ftronger upon him than ever. Let me beg of
you not to forget me, for I can never ceafe to love
The king, as he at dinner fat,
DiH beckoa to his hufTar,
And bid him bring his tabby cat.
For charming Nell to bufs her.
The ladies were with rage provok'd.
To fee her fo refpefled :
The men look'd arch, as Nelly flrok'd,
And Pufs her tail ereded.
But rot a man did look employ.
Except on pretty Nelly ;
Then faid the duke di Villerti,
j9i)f quelle eji bien jolie?
The courtiers all, with one accord.
Broke out in N'elly^ praifes ;
Admir'd her rofe, and Us fans farde.
Which are your terms Francoijes,
and
[ 145 ]
and efteem you, being ever your mofl: affeftionate and
obliged humble fervant,
JO. ARBUTHNOT.
LETTER CXC.
Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift.
DEAR BROTHER, London, Dec. ii, 1718.
Jr O R for fo I had called you before, were it not
for a certain reverence I pay to deans. I find yoii
wifli both me and yourfelf to live to be old and rich.
The fecond goes in courfe along with the firft ; but
you cannot give feven (that is the tythe of feventy)
good reafons for either. Glad at my heart lliould I
be, if Dr. Heljham or I could do you any good. My
fervice to Dr. Heipam : he does not want my advice
in the cafe. I have done good lately to a patient and
a friend, in that complaint of a vertigo, by cinnabar
of antimony and caftor, made up into bolu«'s with,
confeft. of alkermes. I had no great opinion of the
cinnabar ; but, trying it amongft other things, my
friend found good of this prefcription. I had tried
the caftor alone before, not with fo much fuccefs.
Small quantities of tinSlura facra, now and then, will
do you good. There arc twenty lords, I believe,
would fend you horfes, if they knew how. One or
two have offered to me, who, I believe, would be as
good as their words. Mr. Roivet the poet laureat, is
dead, and has left a damned jade of a Pegafus. I'll
anfwer for it, he won't do as your mare did, having
Vol. II. L more
[ h6 3
more need of Lucan's prefent, than Sir Richard Black-
more. I would fain have Pope get a patent for life for
the place, with a power of putting in Durfey his
deputy. The dragon is come to town, and was en-
tering upon the detail of the reaibns of ftate, that
kept him from appearing at the beginning, tffc when
I did believe, at the fame time, it was only a law of
nature, to which the dragon is moll; fubjcft, Remanere
in Jiatii in fuo eji niji dcturbetur ab extrififeco. Lord
Harley and lady Harley give you their fervice. Le^vis
is in the country with lord Bathurjl, and has wrote
me a moll dreadful ftory of a mad dog, that bit their
huntfman ; iince which accident, I am told, he has
Ihortened his llirrups three bores ; they were not long
before. Lord Oxford prefented him with two horfes.
He has fold one, and fent the other to grafs, avec
heaiicoup de fagejfe. I do not believe the ftory of
lord Bolingbroke'h marriage, for I have been confulted
about the lady; and by fome defeds in her conftitu-
tion, I fhould not think her appetite lay much to-
wards matrimony. There is fome talk about rever-
ling his attainder; but I wifti he may not be difap-
pointed. lam for all precedents of that kind. They
fay the pretender is like to have his chief miniftcr
impeached. He has his wife prifoner. The foot-
men of the houfe of commons choofe their fpeaker,
and Impeach, i^c. I think it were proper, that all
monarchs ftiould ferve their apprenticelhips as pre-
tenders, that we might difcover their defe(^s. Did
you ever expeft to live to fee the duke of Qrtnond
fighting againft the Proteftant fuccefllon, and th«
diik«
C 147 ]
f^uke of Berivkk fighting for it? France, in confede-
racy with Engla?id, to reduce the exorbitant power
of Spain ? I really think there is no fach good reafon
for living till feventy, as curiofity. You fay you are
ready to refent it as an affront, to fay, that a lady,
hardly known or obferved for her beauty in Ireland,
is a curiofity in France. All deans naturally fall into
paralogifms. My wife gives you her kind love and
fervice, and, which is the firft thing, that occurs to
all wives, wilhes you well married.
LETTER CXCI.
Lord BoLiNGBROKE to Dr. Swift.
March 17, 1719, N, S.
1 HAVE not thefe feveral years tailed fo fenfibic a
pleafure, as your letters of the i6th of January and
16th of February gave me ; and I know enough of the
tendernefs of your heart, to be afiured, that the let-
ter I am writing will produce much the fame effeft on
you. I feel my own pleafure, and I feel yours. The
trued reflexion, and, at the fame time, the bitterefl:
fatyr, which can be made on the prefent age, is this ;
that, to think as you think, will make a man pafs
for romantic. Sincerity, conftancy, tendernefs, are
rarely to be found. They are fo much out of ufe, that
the man of mode imagines them to be out of nature.
We meet with few friends ; the greatefl part of thofe,
who pafs for fuch, are, properly fpeaking, nothing
more than acquaintance ; and no wonder, fince
L 2 r«//y's
[ H^- 3 .
TuUf?, maxim is certainly true, that friendlliip can
fubfift tic7i nift inter boms, at that age of life, when
there is balm in the blood, and that confidence in
the mind, which the innocency of our own heart in-
fpires, and the experience of other men's deftroys, I
was apt to confound my acquaintance and ray friends
too-ether. I never doubted but that I had a numerous
cohort of the latter. I expcfted, if ever I fell into
misfortune, to have as many, and as remarkable in-
ftances of friendfhip to produce, as the Scythian, in
one of Lucians Dialogues, draws from his nation. Into
thefe misfortunes I have fallen. Thus far my propi-
tious ftars have not difappointed my expeftations.
The reft have almoft entirely failed me. The fire of
my adverfity has purged the mafs of my acquaint-
ance; and, the feparation made, I difcover, on one
fide, an handful of friends ; but, on the other, a
legion of enemies, at leafl of ftrangers. Happily this
fiery trial has had an effedt on me, which makes me
fome amends. I have found lefs refource in other
people, and more in myfelf, than I expefted. I make
good, at this hour, the motto which I took nine years
ago, when I was weak enough to lift again under the
conduft of a man *, of whom nature meant to make
a fpy, or, at moft, a captain of miners ; and whom
fortune, in one of her whimfical moods, made a ge-
neral.
• I enjoy, at this hour, with very tolerable healtli,
great tranquility of mind. You will, I am fvire, heaT
» ' Rfierf, Earl of O;^/^^/,'
t I^ 1
ihls with fatisfaflion; and furc It is, that I tell It yoa
without the leaft afFedlation. I live, my friend, in a
narrower circle than ever; but, I think. In a larger.
When I look back on what is paft, I obferve a mul-
titude of errors, but no crimes, I have been far from
following the advice which Calius gave to Cicero ; Id
melius eji Jlatutre quod tutius Jit : and, I think, may
fay to myfelf, what Dolohdla fays, in one of his let-
ters, to the fame Cicero : Satisfa£ium eji jam a te, 'vel
officio, I'cl familiaritati : JatisfaBum etiam partibus, et
ei reipublica, quarn tu frobahas. Reliquum ejl, ubi nunc
eji re/public a, ibi Jimuipotius, quam, dutn illam t'Cterem
fequamur, Jimus in tiuHd. What my memory has fur-
niflied on tliis head, (for I have neither books nor
papers here concerning home affairs) is writ with
great truth, and with as much clearnefs as I could
give it. If ever we meet, you will, perhaps, not
think two or three hours abfolutely thrown away in
reading It. One thing I will venture toafTure you of
beforehand, which is, that you will think I never
"deferved more to be commended, than whilft I was
the mofl blamed ; and that you will pronounce the
highefl part of my charafter to be that, which has
been difg uifed by the nature of things, mifreprefented
hy the malice of men, and which is ftill behind a
cloud. In what Is pad, therefore, I find no great
fource of uneafinefs. As to the prefent my fortune is
extremely reduced ; but my defires are ftill more fo.
Nothing is more certain than this truth, that all our
wants, beyond thofe, which a very moderate income
will fupply, arc purely imaginary; and that his bap-
lu 3 pinefs
pinefs IS greater, and better aflured, who brings his
mind up to a temper of not feeling them, than his,
who feels them, and has wherewithal to fupply ihem.
Hor. epiji. i. lib. I.
*"- — V'.de:^ qua maxima credis,
EJ/e mala, exiguu?n cctijum, turpemq\ repuljam^
S^uanto dc'vites, &C.
Which I paraphrafed thus, not long ago, in my pofl-
chaife :
Survey mankind, obferve what rifques they run.
What fanfy'd ills, thro' real dangers, fhun ;
Thofe fanfy'd ills, fo dreadful to the great,
A loft eleftion, or impair'd eftate.
Obferve the merchant, who, intent on gain,
Affronts the terrors of the Indian main ;
Tho' ftorms arife, and broken rocks appear.
He fli?s from poverty, and knows no other fear.
Vain men, who might arrive, with toil far lefs.
By fmoother paths, at greater happinefs.
For 'tis fuperior blifs, not to defire
That trifling good, which fondly you admire,
PoiTefs precarious, and too dear acquire.
What hackney gladiator can you find.
By v/hom th' Olympic crown would be declin'd ?
Who, rather than that glorious palm to feize.
With fafety combat, and prevail with eafe.
Would chufe on fome inglorious ftage to tread.
And, fighting, flroU from wake to wake for bread ?
As
[ 151 1
As to what is to happen, I am not anxious about
it : on which fubjeft, I have twenty fine quotations at
the end of my pen ; but, I think, it is better to own.
frankly to you, that, upon a principle (which I have
long eflablifhed) that we are a great deal more me-
chanical than our vanity will give us leave to allow,
I have familiarized the worft profpefls to my fight ;
and that, by flaring want, folitudc, negleft, and the
reft of that train in the face, I have difarmed them of
their terrors. I have heard of fomebody, who, whilll:
he was in the Tonjuer, ufed, every morning, to lay
down on the block, and fo aft over his laft fcene.
Nothing difturbs me, but the uncertainty of my
fituation, which the zeal of a few friends, and the
inveteracy of a great many enemies entertain. The
more prepared I am to pafs the remainder of my life
in exile, the more fenfibly fliall I feel the pleafure of
returning to you, if his majefty's unconditional fa-
vour, (the offers of which prevented even my wifhes)
proves at laft eiFe(5lual. I cannot apply to myfelf, as
you bid me do ; -- ■■ -Non tibi pawum ingeniutn, non
incuhum eft, and what follows ; and, if ever we live
in the fame country together, you fhall not apply to
me, ■■< ^uod Ji frigida cur arum /omenta rilifiquere
pojes.
I have writ you, before I was aware of it, a long
letter. The pleafure of breaking fo long a filence
tranfports me ; and your fentiment is a fuiHcient ex-
cufe. It is not fo eafy to find one for talking fo much
about myfelf; but I fhall want none with you upon
y^s fcore. Adieu,
L 4 This
[ 152 ]
This letter will get fafe to London ; and from thence,
I hope, the friend, to whom I recommend it, will find
means of conveying it to you. — For God's fake, no
more apologies for your quotations, unlefs you mean,
by accuiing yourfelf, to corred me.
There never was a better application than yours,
of the ftory of Pier/choh. The ftorks will never come,
and they mull be porters a':l their lives. They are
fomethiag worfe ; for I had rather he a porter than a
tool: I wv uld fooner lend out my back to hire, than
my name. They are at this time the inftruments of
of a faucy gardener, who has got a gold crofs on his
ilomach, and a red cap on his head.
A poor gentleman, who puts me often in mind of
one of ScandciPs pictures in Congrjve's play of Lcve
for Loue, where a fclaier Is repref. ,:;ed with his h>^art
where his head Ihould be. an J no head at aJ-1, is the
conductor of this doughty ;nterprize ; which vvill end
in making their caufe a little more defperate chau it
is. Again, adieu.
Let me hear from you by tlie fame conveyance, that
brings you this. I am in pain about your health. From
the 6 th of January to the i6th of February is a long
courfe of illnefs.
LET-
[ 1)3 1
LETTER CXCII.
Mr. Prior to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, Weftm. May 5, 1719.
Since I love you with all the ties of inclination
and friendfhip, and willi you all the happinefs of life,
health efpecially, the chiefeft, you will pardon me
being a little peevifli, when I received yours of the
twenty-eighth pad, which told me I muft not expeft
to fee you here, and that you were notperfeftly well
at Dublin. I hope there is a little fpleen mixed with
your diftemper ; in which cafe your horfe may be your
phyfician, and your phyfician may have the happi-
nefs of being your companion ; an honour, which
many here v^^ould envy him. As to the J'ajtg frcid oi
fifty, who. has it not, that is worth converfmg with,
except Uarhy and Bathurjis'- At leaft, make no more
that fort of complaint to me. IJihac cctnmemoraiio ejl
quafi exprobatio i for fifty ( is Mr. Locke obferves) is
equal to fifty; and a cough is worfe than the fpleen.
My bookfeller is a blockhead ; {o have they all been,
or worfe, from Chaucer's fcrivener dov/n to Jo/jn and
Jaccrb, Mr. Hjde only excepted, to whom my books
in quires are configned, and the greateft care taken,
that they are rightly put up. Several of the fubfcrib-
ers to you requiring their books here, have had them.
I need not repeat my thanks to you, for the trouble
this matter has given you ; or intrcat your favour for
j^lma and Solomon. 1 (hall perform your commands
to the earl of Oxford, fcmper ickm \ and drink your
health.
[ 154 1
iiealtli with our friends, which is all J can do for yon
at this diftance, till your particular order enjoins me
any thing, by which I may fliew you, that I am, and
defire always to continue, with the greateft truth and
regard,"'Sir, your molt obedient and moft humble fer^
vant, M. PRIOR,
LETTER CXCIIL
Mr. Prior to Dr. Swift.
SIR, Weftm. Dec. g, 1719.
irlAVING fpent part of my fummer very agreeably
in Cambridgejinre with dear lord Harley, I am returned
without him to my own palace in Dlike-Jireet, whence
I endeavour to exclude all the tumult and noife of the
neighbouring Court of Requefts, and to live aut ni-
hil agendo aut iliud agendo, till he comes to town. But
there is worfe than this yet. I have treated lad Har^
riot* 2X Cambridge. Good God ! a fellow of a college
treat ! and fpoke verfes to her f in a gown and cap 1
What ! the plenipotentiary fo far concerned in the
damned peace at Utrecht; the man, that makes up
ialf the volume of terfe profe, that makes up the re-
port of the committee, fpeaking verfes ! Sic ejl, homo
QiTii ; and am not afhamed to fend thofe very verfes to
• ' L3.dy Harn'it Harley, only daughter of Edivar J lord Hairey,
now ductiefs dowager of Portland.^
•f- ' They a-e printed in what is called by the editor, Samutl
Humphreys, Efq; the third volume of Vriox' s Works ; and are inti-
tled, I'^erfes fpcJen to lady Henrietta Cavendifli Holies Harley, in-
thi library cf St. ]o\\r\i College, Cambridge, Nov. 5. 17 J9.'
one^
one, who can make much better. And now let me
alk you, How you do ? and what you do ? How your
JrrJ^ country air agrees with you, and when you in-
tend to take any Englljh country air ? In the fpring I
will meet you where you will, and go with you where
you will ; but I believe the bell: rendezvous will be
Duke Jireet, and the faireft field for aftion Wimple*,
the lords of both thofe feats agreeing, that no man
will be more welcome to either than yourfelf.
It is many months fmce the complaints of my fub-
fcribers are redreffed, and that they have ceafed to
call the bookfeller a blockhead, by transferring that
title to the author. We have not heard from Mr.
Hyde, but expeft, that at his leifure he will fignify X9
Totijhn what may relate to that whole matter, as to the
feccnd fubfcriptions. In the mean time, i hope the
books have been delivered without any miftake ; and
fhall only repeat to you, that I am fenfibJe of the
trouble my poetry has given yoy, and return you my
thanks in plain profe. Earl of Oxford, pro more Juo,
went late into the country, and continues there ftill.
Our friends are all well; fo am I, jiiji cum pituita ?/io-
lejia eji ; which is at this prefent writing, and will
continue fo all the winter. So with weak lunes, and
g very good heart, I remain always, Sir, your moil
©bedient humble fervant,
M. PRIOR.
J». 5. Service to Matthetv Pennyfeuther,
' and all friends. Adieu.
* The feat of lord Harley,
LET-
I 156 I
LETTER CXCIV.
Duchtfs of O R M o N D to Dr. Swift.
SIR, - Aprfl I?, 1720.
X OU'D have great reafon to be angry with me, if
my long filence had been occafioned by any thing
but my care of you; for having no fafe hand to fend
by till now, I would not write, for fear it might be
conftrued a fort of treafon (mifprifion at leaft) for yoa
to receive a letter from one half of a profcribed man^
I enquire of every body I fee, that I imagine has ei-
ther feen you or heard from you, how you have your
liealth ; for wealth and happinefs I don't fuppofe you
abound in ; for it is hard to meet with either in the
country you are in, and be honefl as you are. I thank
God our parliament has taken them to taft, and, find-
ing how ill a ufe they made of their judicature when
they had it, have thought it not fit to truft them with it
any longer*. I hope the next thing will be to tax
Ireland from hence, and then no more opportunities
for bills of attainder, which is very happy j for elfe
* ' The houfe of per rs In Ireland having Jranfmitted to king
George 1. a long reprefentation, fettin^ forth their right to the
final judicature of caufes in that kingdom, thj houfe of lords in
Ergland tttoh'ti, on the eighth of Januaiy, 1719-20," on the
contrary, that the barons of the. Ex. he(juer in Ireland h?iA ii^t^,
in the affair of Anr.ejUy and Sherlock, with courage, according to
!aw, in fupport of his majefty's prerogative, and with fidelity to
the ciown of Great Britain ; and a bill was foon after brought in,
for the better fecuring the dependency of the kingdom oi Ireland
upon the crewn of Great Britain,*
4 - ' yo«"g
[ 157 ]
■yeun g Hope/tt/* imgYit have been In danger. Thty
were fo good And obedient to the powers above, that
whether there were reafon or not, or as prince ^.v?/i?r
faid, crime or no crime, the man was condemned,
and a price fet upon his head.
I want much to hear what you think of Great Bri-
tain ; for all your relations here want much to fee you^
where are llrange changes every day. You remem-
ber, and fo do 1, when the South-fca was faid to be
my lord Oxford's brat, and muft be ftarved at nurfe.
Now the king has adopted it, and calls it his beloved
child ; tho', perhaps, you may fay, if he loves It no-
better than his fon, it may not be faying much: but
he loves it as well as he does the duchefs of K f,
and that is faying a good deal. I wifh it may thrive,
for many of my friends are deep in it : I wifii you
were fo too. I believe, by this time, you are very
forry I have met with an opportunity of troubling
you with this fcrawl ; but the firong muft bear with
the Infirmities of the weak; and therefore, brother,
I hope you will pardon the impertinencies of your
poor filler, whofe brain may be reafonably thought
turned with all fhe has met with. But nothing will
hinder her from being, as long as flie lives, moft fiu-
cerely your very humble feiTant, and faithful friend,
M. ORMOND.
* ' The duchefs feems to mean the prince of Wales, afterwardt
king George II. then upon ill terms with his father and his fa.her'»
miniflers.'
•f * Kendal, Eiengard Melcjir.a Schuylenherg, baronefs of Schuy-
hnkerg in Germany. She was creaied duchefs of Kendal b^ king
Georgi I, on the thirtieth of April, 17 19.*
LET-
C 15S ]
LETTER CXCV.
Mr. Prior, to Dr. Swift.
SIR, . Weftm, May 4, I'jio,
JT ROM my good friend the Dean I have two letters
before me, of what date I will not fay, and I hope
you have forgot, that call out for vengeance ; or, as
other readings have it, for an anfwer. You told me
in one of them, you had been purfued with a giddy
head ; and I prefume you judged, by my filence, that
I -have laboured under the fame diftemper. 1 don't
know why you have not buried me, as you did Par-
tridge, and given the wits of the age, the Steeles and
Addifons, a new occafion of living feven years upon
one of your thoughts. When you have finifhed the
copy of verfes, which you began in England^ our
writers may have another hint, upon which they may
dwell feven years longer.
Are you Frenchman enough to know how a Gafcm
fuflains his family for a week ?
Dimanche, une Efclaiiche J
Ltindi, froide et Salade ;
Mardi, faime la Grilladi i
Mecredi, Hachee ;
jftudiy hon pciir la Capillctade ;
P'endredi, Point de Gras ;
Safm-diy ^'e« tne cajfe les os, et les chiens ft Cre've",
ront des rejles de mon Meuton,
We
[ 159 ]
We can provide fuch fort of cookery, If you will
but fend us the efdancbe ; but rather bring it with
you, for it will eat much better, when you are in tlie
company.
Lord Oxford has been a twelvemonth in Ha-eferd-
Jhire, as far from us, literally, tho' not geographi-
cally, as if he had been with you in Ireland. He has'
writ no more to us, than if we were Hill minifters of
ftate. But, in the balance of account, per co?itra, I
have lord Harley at London ; and have either lived
with him at Whnph, or upon him here, ever fince his
father left us. I know no rcafon, why you fliould
not expeft his pifture, but that he promifed it to you
fo often. I wrote to him fix months fmce, and, in-
ilead of acknowledging my letter, he took a more
compendious way of fending a gentlemrai to lady Hc%t~
riot, in Do-uer-Jlrcet \ and bid him call at Wejlminfier^
to know if I had any thing to fay to his lord. He was
here to-day, when he was fare the fcafFold was ready,
and the axe whetted ; and is in Herefordjhire, whea
the confent of all mankind either juftifies his mini-
ftry, or follows the plan of It. The South-Jea com-
pany have raifed their flock to three hundred and
fifty, and he has not fix-penee in it. Thou art a
ftranger in Ifrael, my good friend ; and feemeft to
know no more of this lord, than thou didft of th«
Conde de P , when firft I conftrued him to thee
at the cofFee-houfe.
I labour under the diftemper you complain of,
deafnefs, efpecially upon the Icaft cold. 1 did not
t^ke care of my ears, till I knew if my head was my
own
[ i6o ]
own or not; but am now fyringing, and I hope to
profit by it. My coufin is here, and well, and I fee
him fometimes ; but I find he has had a caution,
which depended upon his expefting more from court,
and is juftifiable in a man, who, like him, has a great
family. I have given your compliments to my two
favourites. We never forget your health.
I have feen Mr. Butler, and ferved him to the ut-
moft of my power with my ajnldpotentiores. Though
he had a good caufe, and a ftrong recommendation,
he trufted wholly to neither of them, but added the
greateft diligence in his folicitations.
Auditor Harley thanks you, for remembering him
and his finging man *. As to the affair of fubfcrip-
tions, do all at your leifure, and in the manner you
judge moft proper; andfo I bid you heartily farewel,
affuring you, that I am moll truly yours, M. P.
Friend Ford falutes you. Adieu.
Richard/otii whom I take to be a better painter than
any named in your letter, has made an excellent pic-
ture of me ; from whence lord Harhy (whofe it is) has
a ilamp taken by Vertue. He has given me fome of
ihem for you to give to our friends at or about Dub-
Ihu 1 will fend them by ^onfon^ canal to Hydt at
Dublin, in fuch a manner, as that, I hope, they may
some iafe to you.
• Prob.jb'y a pirfon recommended to the Dean's cathedraJ.
X?
[ i6, ]
LETTER CXCVI.
Sir T H O M A S H A N M B R tO Dr. S \V I F T.
SIR, Mildenhall, Oflober 22, 1720.
1 RECEIVED the favour of a letter from you about
ten days fince, at which time the duke of Grafton *
was at London; but as he was foon expe«5led in the
country, and is now aftually returned, I thought it
beft, rather than write, to wait for an opportunity of
fpeaking to him; and yefterday I went over to his
houfe, on purpofe to obey your commands. I found
he was not a flranger to the fubjefl of my errand ; for
he had all the particulars of the ftory very perfedt,
and told me, my lord Arran had fpoke to him con-
cerning it f. I added my felicitations, backed with
the reafons, with which you had furniflied me; and
he was fo kind to promife, he would by this pofl
write to the chief juflice; how explicitly or how pre-
cifely I cannot fay, becaufe men in high polls are
afraid of being poficive in their anfwers ; but I hope
it will be in fuch a manner as will be effedlual.
If the thing is done, it will be bell, that the means
fhould be a fecret by which it is brought about ; and
for this reafon you will excufe me, if I avoid putting
my name to the outfide of my letter, left it Ihould
excite the curiofity of the Poji-Ojjice. If this affair
• ' Charles, whofe mother Jfabdla, daughter of Henry Bennet,
earl of Arlington, married to Kcifecoud hufljand Sir Thoiuas Hanmer.'
■\ The profecutioa of yFait's, See the fo. lowing letter from
Sir Conjljntine Bk'i^^i,
Vol. II. M €nds
[ i62 }
ends to your fatisfaftion, I am glad it has proved to
me a caufe of hearing from you, and an occafioa of
afluring you, that I am, Sir, your very humble fervant,
THO. HANMER.
LETTER CXCVII.
Sir C 0 N s T A N T I N E P H I p p s t® Dr. Swift.
SIR, Ormond-Street, Jan. 14, 1720-21.
iri AVTNG been a little indifpofed, I went at Chrijl-
mas into the country, which prevented me from fooner
acknowledging the favour of your letter. As to Wa-
ters's * cafe, I was informed of it ; and the lad term I
fpoke to Mr. attorney-general f about it ; but he told
me, he could not grant a writ of error in a criminal
cafe, without direftion from the king : fo that Waters
is not like to have much relief from hence, and there-
fore I am glad you have fome hopes it will drop in
Ireland. I think the chief jultice % Ihould have that
* Dr. Swi/t's printer : he was profecuted for printing A Profit)'
Jalfor the Uni-verfal UJe of the Iiifli M^nufaElures, fa'd by miftake
to have been written in 1721. The Dean, in his letter io Pope,
dated January 10, I72r, fays, that the jury, which tritd him,
had been culled wiih the utmofl induftry ; but that, notwithftand-
ing, they brought h"m in not guilty. That Whitjhed, the judge,
fentthem out nine times, and kept them eleven hours 5 till, being
tired out, they were forced to leave the matter to the mercy of the
judge by a fpecial verdi<3:. The duke of Cra/rsn, lord lieutenant,
foon after, upon mature advice, and permiflion from Er.gland,
granted a noli prosequi,
•f * Sir Robert Rajmind,''
% Whitjhed.
regard
[ i63 1
regard to his own reputation, to let it go off fo ; for
I believe the oldeft man alive, or any law-book, can-
not give any initance of fuch a proceeding. I was
informed who was aimed at by theprofecution, which
made me very zealous in it ; which I fhall be in every
thina, wherein I can be ferviceable to that gentleman,
for whom no body has a greater efteem than your mofl
humble and molt obedient feivant,
CON. PHIPPS.
LETTER CXCn^IlI.
Mr. Prior to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, Weflm. Feb. 28, 1720-21.
If I am to chide you for not writing to me, or beg
your pardon, that I have not writ to you, is a quef-
tion ; for our correfpondence has been fo long inter-
rupted, that I fwear 1 don't know which of Qs wrote
laft. In all cafes, I afiure you of my continual friend-
(hip, and kindeft remembrance of you; and, with
great pleafure, expeft the fame from you. I have
been ill this winter. Age, I find, comes on ; and
the cough does not diminifh.
Non fum qualis erant honee
Sub Regno Cynara — Pafs for that.
I am tired with politics, and loft in the Soutb-fea.
The roaring of the waves, and the madnefs of the
people, were juftly put together. I can fend you no
M 2 fort
t 164 ]
fort of news, that holds either connexion or fenfe. It
is all wilder than St. Anthonfh dream ; and the baga-
telle is more folid than any thing, that has been en-
deavoured here this year. Our old friend Ox
IS not well, and continues in Herefonijhire. John of
Bucks * died laft week, and Coningfiy was fent lail
week to the I'onuer. I frequently drink your health
with lord Hurley, who is always the fame good man,
. and grows daily more beloved as more univerfally
known. I do fo too with our honeft good natured
friend Ford, whom I love for many good reafons, and
particularly for that he loves you.
How do you do as to your health ? Are we to fee
you this fummer ? Anfwer me thefe queftions. Give
33iy fervice to all friends, and believe me to be ever,
with great truth and efteem, dear Sir, yours,
M. PRIOR»
LETTER CXCIX.
Mr. Prior to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, Weftm, April 25, 1721.
I KNOW very well, that you can write a good let-
ter, if you have a mind to it ; but that is not the
queftion. A letter from you fometimes is what I de-
iire. Referve your tropes and periods for thofe you love
lefs; and let me hear how you do, in whatever hu-
mour you are ; v^hether lending your money to the
butchers, proteding the weavers, treating the wo-
» * John Sbiffield, duke of Buckingham/bin,^
men,
[ i65 ]
men, or conftruing/re/r/^ qua marihus to the country
curate. You and I are fo eftablifhed authors, that we
may write what we will, without fear of cenfure: and
if we have not lived long enough to prefer the baga-
telle to any thing clfe, we deferved to have had our
brains knocked out ten years ago.
I have received the money pnnftually of Mr. Dan.
Hayes, have his receipt, and hereby return you all the
thanks, that your friendfhip in that affair ought to
claim, and your generofity does contemn. There's
one turn for you: good.
The man you mentioned in your laft has been in,
the country thefe two years, very ill in his health,
and has not for many months been out of his cham-
ber; yet what you obferve of him is fo true, that his
ficknefs is all counted for policy, that he will not
come up, till the public dlftraftlons force fomebody
or other, (whom God knows) who will oblige fome-
body elfe to fend for him in open triumph, and fet
him in JIatu quo prius. That, in the mean time, he
has forefeen all that has happened ; checkmated all
the minillry; and, to divert himfelf at his leifure
hours, has laid all thofe lime- twigs for his neighbour
Conhigjby *, that keep that precious bird in the cage,
out of which himfelf flipt fo cunningly and eafily.
Things, and the way of mens judging them, vary
fo much here, that it is impoffible to give you any
jaft account of fome of our friends aftions. Rqffenis
more than fufpefted to have given up his party, as
• ' Thomas, earl of Ccnigfby, created fo by king George I. in
1719.'
M 3 Sancho
[ i66 ]
Sancho did his Aibjefts, for fo much a head, Pun por"
tant V autre. His caufe, therefore, which is fomething
originally like that of Lutrin, is oppofed or neglefted
by his ancient friends, and openi) fuftained by the
ininiflry. He cannot be lower in tiic opinion of moft
men than he is; and I wi(h our friend Ha; * were
higher than he is.
Our young Harley'?. vice is no more covetoufnefs,
than plainnefs of fpeech is that of his coulin Tan,
His lordihip is really arnabilis, and lady Hurrieite
adoranda.
I tell- you no news, but that the whole is a compli-
cation of millakes in policy, and of kijavery in the
execution of it: of the minifters Ifpeak, for the moft
part, as well ecclefiallical as civil. This is all the
truth I can tell you, except one, which I am fure
you receive very kindly, that I am ever your friend
and your fervant, M. PRIOR.
Friend Shehon, commonly called Dear Dick, is with
me. We drink your health. Adieu.
L E T T E R CC.
Lord BoLiNGBROKE to Dr. Swift.
July 28, 1721.
1 NEVER was fo angry in all my life, as I was with
you laft week, on the receipt of your letter of the 19th
ei June. The extream pleafureit gave me takes away
* * Lord Har court.''
aU
t 167 I
i'll the-excufes, which I had invented for your long
negledl. I defign to return my humble thanks to thofe
men of eminent gratitude and integrity, the weavers
and the judges, and earnelHy to entreat them, inilead
of toiTing you in the perf n of your proxy, who had
need to have iron ribs to endure all the drubbings you
will procure him, to tofs you in your proper perfon, the
next time you offend, by goi^ng about to talk fenfe, or
to do good to the rabble. Is it poiTible, that one of your
age and profeffion (hould be ignoiant, that this nion-
ftrous beaft has paffions to be moved, but no reafon to
be appealed to ; and that plain truth will influence
half a fcore men at mod in a nation, or an age,
while myftery will lead millions by the nofe? •
Dear Jonathan, fince you cannot reiblve to write as
you preach, what public authority allows, what coun-
cils and fenates have decided to be orthodox, inftead
of what private opinion fuggefts, leave oif indrudt-
i-ng the citizens of Dublin. Believe me, there is
more pleasure, and more merit too, in cultivating
friendfhip, than in taking care of the ftate. Fools
and knaves are generally beft fitted for the lad; and
none but men of fenfe and virtue are crpable of the
other. How comes it then to pafs, that you, who have
fenfe, tho' you have wit, and virtue, tho' you have
kept bad company in your time, fhould be fo fur-
prized, that I continue to write to you, and expedl
to hear from you, after fcven years abfence.
' Anni fradantur eiaiies, fay you ; and time will lop
off my luxuriant branches : perhaps it will be (q. Eut
I have put the pruning-hook into an hand, which
iVI 4. works
t i68 ]
works hard to leave the other as little to do of that
kind as may be. Some fuperfluous twigs are every
day cut ; and, as they leflen in number, the bough,
which bears the golden fruit of friendfhip, fhoots,
fwells, and fpreads.
Our friend told you what he heard, and what was
commonly faid, when he told you, that I had taken
the fancy of growing rich. If I could have refolved
to think fwo minutes a day about flocks, to flatter
La-w * half an hour a week, or to have any obliga-
tion to people 1 neither loved nor valued, certain it
is, that I might have gained immenfcly. But not
caring to follow the many bright examples of thefe
kinds, which France furniflied, and which England
fent us over, 1 turned the little money I had of my
own, without being let into any fecret, very negli-
gently : and if I have fecured enough to content me,
it was becaufe I was foon contented. I am forry to
hear you confef?, that the love of money has got into
your head. Take care, or it will, ere long, flnk into
your heart, the proper feat of paflions. Plate, whom
you cite, looked upon riches, and the other advan-
tages of fortune, to be deflrable ; but he declared, as
you have read in Diogenes Laertius ; Eti etft ?ion ajlue-
rint, nihilominus tamen heaiuvifore fapientem. You may
think it, perhaps, hard to reconcile his two journeys
into Sicily with this maxim, efpecially fince he got
fourfcore talents of the tyrant. But I can aflure you,
that he went to the elder Dionyjlus only to buy books,
• The projeflor of the MtJJlJJippi fcheme in France, which pro-
duced the Smih-fia fcheme here,
and
C 169 1
and to the younger only to borrow a piece of ground,
and a number of men, women and children, to try
his Utopia. Afijtippus vvas in Sicily at the fame time j
and there paffed feme Billing/gate between thefe reve-
rend perfons. This philofopher had a much ftronger
fancy to grow rich than Pluto: he flattered, he cracked
jefts, and danced over a ftick to get fome of the Sici-
lian gold ; but ftill even he took care, fibi res, non fe
rebus fubmitterre. And I remember, with great edifi-
cation, how he reproved one of his catechumens,
who bluihed, and flirunk back, when his mailer
fhewed him the way to the bawdy-houfe. Non ingiedi
turpi eft, fed egredi non pnjfe turpi eft. The conclufion
of all is this; un bonnet e homme ought to have cent: mille
litres de rente, if you pleafe ; but a wife man will be
happy with the hundredth part. Let us not refufe
riches, when they offer themfelves ; but let us give
them no room in our heads or our hearts. Let us en-
joy wealth, without fuffering it to become neceffary
to us. And, to finiih with one of Seneca's quaint
fentences ; L:t us place it fo, that fortune may take it
nvithout tearing it from us. The pafTage you mention
does follow that, which I quoted to you, and the ad-
vice is good. Sclcn thought fo ; nay, he went further:
and you remember the reafon he gave for fitting in the
council of Piffratus, whom he had done his utmoft
to oppofe ; and who, by the way, proved a very good
prince. But the epiftle is not writ by Cicero, as you
feem to think. It is, if I miftake not, an epiftle of
Dclabella to him. Caio, you fay, would not be of
the fame mind. Cato is a mofl venerable name, and
3 Dilahella
[ I/O ]
Dolahella was but a fcoundrel with wit and valour ;
and yet there is better fenfe, nay, there is more vir-
tue, in what Dolahella advife*, than in the conduit of
O/o. I muft own my weaknefs to you. This Cato,
fo funo- by Lucan in every page, and fo much better
fung by Firgil in half a line, ftrikes me with no great
refpedl. When I fee him painted in all the glorious
colours, v/hich eloquence furniflies, I call to mind
that imag-e of him, which Tully gives in one of his.
letters to Atikus, or tofomebody elfc ; where he fays,
that having a mind to keep a debate from coming on
in the fenate, they made Caio rife to fpcak, and that
he talked till the hour of propofing matters was over.
Tully infmuates, that they often made this ufe of him.
Does not the moving pifture fhift ? Do you not be-
hold Clarke of Taunt o>i-(jean, in the gown of a Roman
fcnator, fending out the members to pifs ? The cen-
for ufed fharp medicine^ ; but, in his time, the pa-
tient had ftrength to bear them. The fecond Cats
inherited this receipt without his fkill ; and, like a
true quack, he gave, the remedy, becaufe it was his
only one, tho' it was too late. He haftened the pa-,
tient's death ; he not only hadened it, he made it
more convulhve and painfuL
The condition of your wretched country is woife
than you reprefent it i;o be. The healthful Indian fql--
lows his mafter, who died of ficknefs, to the grave ;
but I much doubt, whether thole charitable legilla-
tors exad the fame, when the mailer is a lunatick,
and cuts his own throat. I mourn over Ireland with
all my heart, but I pity you more. In reading your
4 letter.
[ 171 3
letter, I feel your pulfe ; and I judge of yr)ur diHem-
per as furely by the figures, into which you call your
ink, as the learned dodor, at the hand and the urinal
could do, if he pored over your water. You are really
in a very bad way. You fay your memory declines^
I believe it does, fince you forget your friends, and
fince repeated importunity can hardly draw a token of
remembrance from you. There are bad airs for the
mind, as well as the body: and what do you imagine,
that Plato, fince you have fet me upon quoting him
(who thanked heaven, that he was not a Boeotian) would •
have faid of the z<//z;;/^ Thule? .Shake off your lazinefs,
ramble over hither, and fpend fome months in a kinder
climate. You will be in danger of meeting ^ut one
plague here, and you will leave many behind you.
Here you will come among people, who lead a life
fingular enough to hit your humour ; fo near the world,
as to have all its conveniencies ; fo far from the world,
as to be a ftranger to all its inconveniencies ; wanting
nothing, which goes to the eafe and happinefs of life ;
embarraffed by nothing, which is cumbcrfome. I
dare almoft venture to fay, that you will like us bet-
ter than the perfons you live with, and that we Ihall
be able to make you retrogade (that I may ufe a ca-
nonical fimile) as the fan did on the dial oi Heztchias,
and begin anew the twelve years, which you com-
plain are gone. We will reftore to you the nigros an-
giijio fronte capillos ; and, with them, the dulce loqui,
the ridere decorum, el inter 'vi/ta fugajn Cynara mcerere
proterva. H^c eft 'vita Joluiorum miferd ambitione gra-
ijique, and not yours.
I was
[ 172 I
I was going to finilh with my fheet of paper ; but
having bethought myfelf, that you deferve fome more
punifhment, and calling all my anger againft you to
my aid, I refolve, fince I am this morning in the hu-
mour of fcribbling, to make my letter at leaft as long
as one of your fermons ; and, if you do not mend,
my next fliall be as long as one of Dr. Manton^*, who
taught my youth to yawn, and prepared me to be an
high-churchman, that I might never hear him read,
nor read him more.
You mud know, that I am as bufy about my hermi-
tage, which is between the Chateau and the Mai/on
Bcuygcoife, as if I was to pafs my life in it ; and, if I
could fee you now and then, I ihould be willing
enough to do fo. I have in my wood the biggeft and
cleareft fpring in Europe, which forms, before it leaves
the park, a more beautiful river than any, which flows
in Greek or Latin verfe. I have a thoufand projeds
about this fpring, and, among others, one, which will
employ fome marble. Now marble, you know, makes
one think of infcriptions : and if you will correft this,
v/hich 1 have not yet committed to paper, it fliall be
graved, and help to fill the table-books of Spans and
Mijjlns f yet to come.
* * Thomas Ma'-tcn, D. D. who had b'-en ejefled from the rec-
tory of Co'vent garden for non csnfomity, aftc the reform ion. He
was a velum nous wiier in divinity, and publifheJ a large folio of
fermons on the i icth plaim.'
•f Jatr.a Sion, M. D. and Mjr'w.Ui'in Miflor:, were two eminent
travelleis, whiha-.e publiflied their '.ravels j in which are infcrted
many infcriptionj.'
Prtpl
er
[ ^73 ]
Propter Jiiiem adverfus rtghiam, et partis t
Intemerate fernjatamy
Propter operant, in pace gcnerali concilianda
Strenue faltcni navatam,
Impotentia 'uejuna fudionis
Solum <vertere coadus,
Ilic ad aqua lene caput facrcf
Injujtc exulat
Dulce vi'vit
H. De B. Ah. &c.
Ob were better ih.?LVi propter, but ob operant would ne-
ver pleafe the ear. In a proper place, before the
front of the houfe, which I have new built, I have a
mind to infcribe this piece of patcli-vvork.
Si rejipifcat patriaj iti patriam rtditurus ;
S/ non rejipifcat, ubiiiis melius qiiam inter
tales ci-ves futuruSf
Hanc 'villain iiijlauro et exorno :
Hinc, 'velut ex pertut alienos cajus
Et fortuity ludu7n injoknteta
Ccrtiere fuave eft.
Hic, mortem nee appettns nee iiment
Innocuis deliciis,
Do^ci quiete,
et
Felicis animi immotci tranqiiillitatey
Frunifcor.
Hic tnihi 'vivam quod fuper eji out exilii, aut avi.
If
r 174 ]
If in a year's time you fhould find leifure to write
to me, fend me fome mottos for groves, and ftreams,
and fine profpefts, and retreat, and contempt of gran-
deur, if^c. I have one for my green-houfes, and one
for an alley, which leads to my apartment, which arc
happy enough. The firft is. Hie -ver ajjiduum at que
alienis menfibus ajlas. The other is, fallentls
Jiemitn 'uit^.
You fee I amufe myfelf de la hagatelk as mucli as
you ; but here lies the difference ; your bagatelle
leads to fomething better ; as fidlers flourifh carelefsly,
before they play a fine air. But mine begins, pro-
ceeds, and ends in bagatelle.
Adieu: it is happy for you that my hand is tired.
I'll take care, that you fliall have my pifture, and
I am fimple enough to be obliged to you for afking for
it. If you do not write to me foon, I hope it will
fall down as foon as you have it, and break your head.
LETTER CCL
Duchefs of Or MONO to Dr. Swift.
SIR, Sept. I, 1721.
1 DON'T know how to account for your long
filence, unlefs your time has been taken up in making
an intereft with thofe in power here, for one of the
two archbifhoprics, that, we hear, were void ; (but I
am very glad, are not fo). Set your heart at reft, for
they are promifed ; and therefore you may as well
write to a filter, when next you honour this kingdom
with
[ 175 1
with sny difpatches. As to any greater people, It h
a Ihame to think how you have negledlcd thofeof your
own houfe. I had once determined to write to yoa
no more, fince no anfwer was to be expefted ; but
then revenue came into my head, and I was refolved
to teaze you, till at laft, to be quiet, you would fend
me fome plaufible excufe at leaft, for never enquiring
after brother or filler. I wonder v.hen you'll be good-
natured enough to come and fee how we do; but Ire-
land has fuch powerful charms, that 1 queflion whe-
ther you would leave it to be one of our archbilhops.
I was at your brother Jrran's * a good while this fum-
mer, and have been much upon the ramble, or elfs
you'd have fooner had thefejuft reproaches from me;
whom you have no waj of appeafing, but by a letter
of at leaft four fides of paper: though I am fo good a
Chrillian, upon this occafion, as to be, notwithftand-
ing all this ill treatment, Sir, your moll fincere friend,
and humble fervant, M. ORMOND.
LETTER ecu.
Lord BoLiNGBROKE to Dr. Swift.
Jan. 1, 1721-2.
I RECEIVED your letter of the twenty-ninth of
September, above a fortnight ago ; and fhould have fet
you an example, by anfwering it immediately, (which
I do not remember you ever fet me) if I had not been
* Another of the fixteea.
obliged
C 176 1
obliged to abandon the filence and quiet of this bc-»
loved retreat, and to thruft myfelf into the hurry and
rabble of an impertinent town. In lefs than ten days,
which I fpent at P/?m, I was more than ten times on the
point of leaving my bufinefs there undone ; and yet
this bufinefs was to fave four-fifths of four hundred
thoufand livres, which I have on the town-houfe;
rejies miferables du naiifrage de ma fortune. Luckily I
had the fear of you before my eyes ; and tho' I can-
not hope to deferve your efteem by growing rich, I
have endeavoured to avoid your contempt by growing
poor. The expreflion is equivocal ; a fault, which
our language often betrays thofe, who fcrible haftily,
into; but your own confcience will ferve for a com-
ment, and fix the fenfe. Let me thank you for re-
membering me in your prayers, and for ufing your
credit above fo generoufly in my behalf. To defpife
riches with Seneca's purfe is to have at once all the
advantages of fortune and philofophy.
^id 'vo'veat dulci nutricula majus alumno ?
You are not like H. Guy *, who among other ex-
cellent pieces of advice, gave me this, when 1 firft
came to court; to be very moderate and modell in my
* * Henrf Guy, who had been fecretary to the treafury during three
fucceflivc reigns. He ded February 23, 1710, and left to fni.'iatx
Fuheney, Efq; late earl oi' Bath, near forty thoufand pounds, wiih
an eftite of about five hundred pounds a year 5 at the latter owns,
in his ^nj'iver to cne Part of a late infamous Liiel, &c, publiflied in
173I' P- 39''
appli*
[ '77 ]
applications for my friends, and very greedy and Im^
portunate, when I afked for myfelf. You call TnlJy
names, to revenge Cato\ quarrel; and to revenge
Tullfs, I am ready to fall foul on Seneca. You church-
men have cried him up for a great faint ; and, as if
you imagined, that to have it believed, he had a
month's mind to be a Chriftian, would refleft fome
honour on Chriftianity, you employed one of thofe
pious frauds, fo frequently praftifed in the days of
primitive fimplicity, to impofe on the world a pre-
tended correfpondence between him and the great
apoflle of the Gentiles *. Your partiality in his fa-
vour fhall biafs me no more than the pique, which
Dion CaJ/ius and others fhew againll: him. Like an
equitable judge, I fhall only tax him with avarice in
his profperity, adulation in his adverfity, and affefta-
tion in every ftate of life. Was I confiderable enough,
to be banifhed from my country, methinks I would
jiot purchafe my reftoration, at the expence of writ-
ing fuch a letter to the prince himfclf, as your Chrif-
tian Stoic wrote to the emperor's flave Polybius f .
Thus I think of the man, and yet I read the author
with pleafure ; tho' I join in condemning thofe points,
* ' It confirts of thirteen letters, wliich fcemed to St. Jerome
and St. Augujline to have been genuine. But Dti Pin (NowveHa
B'Motheque dti Auteurz Ecchfian'iques, Tom. I. p. 24. edit. 1690,
quarto) acknowledges, that they contain nothing worthy of the
the apeftlc or philofopher, and have not the ieaft refemb'ance to the
Hyle r f either. This is likewife the judgment of the mofl learned
among the modern critics.'
■\ ' Seneca dc Confclatme ad Polybium,^
Vol. ir. N which
[ I7S 1
wKIch he introduced into the Latin ftile ; thofe eter-
nal witticifms, ftrung like beads together, and that
impudent manner of talking to the paffions, before he
has gone about to convince the judgment; which
Erajmus, if I remember right, objeds to him. He is
feldom inflruftive, but he is perpetually entertaining;
and when he gives ycu no new idea, he refledls your
own back upon you with new luftre. I have lately
wrote an excellent treatife in praife of exile *. Many
of the hints are taken from Confolatio ad Hehnam, and
other parts of his works. The whole is turned on his
llile and manner; and there is as much of the fpirit
of the portiqtiey as I could infufe without running too
far into the mirabilia, inopinatay et paradoxa ; which
Tulljt and I think Seneca himfelf, ridicules the fchool
of Zeno for. That you may laugh at me in your turn,
I own ingenuoufly, that I began in jeft, grew ferious
' at the third or fourth page, and convinced myfelf,
before I had done, of what perhaps I fhall never con-
vince any other, that a man of fenfe and virtue may
be unfortunate, but can never be unhappy. Do not
imagine, however, that I have a mind to quarrel with
Arijiippus : he is ftill my favourite among the philo-
fophers ; and, if I find fome faults in him, they are
few and venial.
You do me much honour, in faying, that I put you
in mind of lord Digby f ; but fay it to no one elfe,
for fear of paffing for partial in your parallels, v^hich
* * It is printed in his works, under the title of RefcB'ions upon
Exile:
•f ' George lord Di^/^/^afterwards carl of Biijlol, Dr. Sivlff, in
a letter
[ 179 ]
lias done Plutarch more hurt than it has done good
to his Grecian heroes. I had forgot, or I never knew,
the remarkable pafTage, which you mention. Great
virtue, unjullly perfecuted, may hold fuch language,
and will be heard with applaufe, with general ap-
plaufe I mean, not univerfal. There was at Athens
a wretch, who fpit in the face of Arijiides, as he
marched firm, calm, and almofc gay, to execution.
Perhaps there was not another man among the Athe-
nians, capable of the fame vile adlion. And for the
honour of my country I will believe, that there are
few men in England, befides lord Oxford, capable of
hearing that fbrain of eloquence, without admiration.
There is a fort of kindred in fouls, and they are di-^
vided into more families than we are apt to imagine.
Digltj and Harley are abfolute ftrangers to one another.
Touch an unifon, and all the unifons will give, the
fame found ; but you may thrum a lute till, your fing-
ers are fore, and you will draw no found out of a
Jew's harp.
I thank you for correfling my infcriptions, and I
thank you ftill more for promifing to gather up mottos
for me, and to write often to me. I am as little given
to beg correfpondents, as you are to beg piflures ;
but fince I cannot live with you, I would fain hear
from you. To grow old with good fenfe, and a good
friend, was the wifh of Thaks ; I add, with good
health : to enjoy but one and an half of thefe three,
a letter to lord BoVrgbroke, dated April 5, 1729, and printed In his
works, ftiles lord Digby the prototype of iord Bolingbroke.'
N 2 is
[ l8o ]
IS hard. I have heard of Priorh death *, and of his
epitaph f ; and have feen a ftrange book, writ by a
grave and eloquent dodlor J, about the duke of Buck-
inghampire. People, who talk much in that moment,
can have, as I believe, but one of thefe two prin-
ciples, fear, or vanity. It is therefore much better
to hold one's tongue. I am forry, that the firft of
thefe perfons, our old acquaintance Matt, lived fo poor
as you reprefent him. I thought that a ce.'-tain lord |[,
whofe marriage with a certain heirefs was the ultimate
end of a certain adminiilration, had put him above
want. Prior might juftly enough have addreffed
himfelf to his young patron, as our friend Arijlippm
did to Dionyjius ; You have money, which I want. I
!
* ' He died Sept. i8, 1721.'
•|- * In the following triplet, written by himfelf.
" To mc 'tis given to die ; to you 'tis given
" To live. Alas! one moment fets us even,
" Mark how impartial is the will of heaven !"
Bifhop AtUibury, in a letter to Mr, Pa/e, dated September 27,
1721, fays j "I will take care to make good, in every refpedl, what
<' I faid to him when living, particularly as to the triplet he wrote
*• for his own epitaph ; which, while we were on good terms, I
<' promifed him fhould never appear on his tomb while I was dean
of Wejim\nfterr
\ • R'ukard Flddes, D. D. publlflied in 172T, in oftavo, A Let-
ter in anfwer to one from a Freethinker j occajioned by the late Duke ef
Buckinghamfhire'i Epitaph \ ivherein certain pajfages in it, that have
been thought exceptionable, are ■vindicated; and the DoSIrine of the Sou/'s
Jtr.morialify afj'erted, Sec. This v/as followed by Afecond Letter, pu-
blifhed the fame year.'
II < Edivard lord Harlej, who married, in Cflober 17 13, the lady
Henrietta Cai'endlfh Holies, only daughter and heir of John duke of
Uewcajlle,^
have
[ i8i ]
have wit and knowledge, which you want. I long to
fee your travels * ; for take it as you will, I do not
retrafl what I faid. I will undertake to find, in two
pages of your bagatelles, more good fenfe, ufeful
knowledge, and true religion, than you can fhew me
in the works of nineteen in twenty of the profound
divines and phllofophers of the age.
I am obliged to return to Paris in a month or fix
weeks time, and from thence will fend you my pic-
ture. Would to heaven I could fend you as like a pic-
ture of my mind : you would find yourfelf, in that
draught, the objeft of the truefl efteem and the fin-
cereft friendfliip.
LETTER CCIII.
Dr. S N A p E to Dr. Swift.
REV, SIR, Windfor, Apr. 23, 1722.
1 TAKE the opportunity of two of our choir going
over to try their fortune in your country, at once to
return my thanks for a very obliging letter you fa-
voured me with fome years ago, and your kind inter-
pretation of my endeavours at that time to afiert the
caufe of our eftablilhment againft a prelate f, who
was undermining it : and alfo to recommend to your
favour the bearer, Mr. Elfcrd, who, upon the encou-
ragement of your worthy primate, is going to fettle
at Armagh. I cannot pretend to fay, he has the fame
* ' Gumver\: t < Bifhop Ecad!^:
N X com-
[ i32 ]
compafs of voice with his late brother, whom the good
queen fo much admired ; but I will venture to fay, he
has a greater compafs of underflanding ; and, upon
the whole, that he is a good choir-man. The
other that bears him company, was a very ufeful
chorifter to us. His voice, iince its breaking, is
fomewhat harlh, but I believe will grow mellower.
If you find either of them for your purpofe, efpecially
the bearer, when you have a vacancy in your church
I fliall be much obliged to you for any favour you are
pleafed to fhew him, and be ready to approve myfelf,
on any cccafion, reverend Sir, your moft obedient and
affeclionate fervant, _
A. SNAPE.
LETTER CCIV.
Mr. Gay to Dr, Swift.
DEAR S.IR, London, Dec, 22, 1722.
After every poft-day, for thefe eight or nine
years, I have been troubled with an uneafinefs of fpi-
lit, and, at laft, I have refolved to get rid of it, and
write to you. I don't deferve you fhould think fo well
of me as I really deferve; for I have not profeffed to
you, that 1 love you as much as ever I did : but you
are the only perfon of my acquaintance almoft, that
does not know it. Whoever I fee, that comes from
Ireland, the lirll queftion 1 afk is after your health; of
which I bad the pleafure to hear very lately from Mr.
Berkeley, I think of you Y^ty often : no- body wifhes
you
[ iSi ]
you better, or longs more to fee you. Duke Di/mjy
who knows more news than any man alive, told me I
fliould certainly meet you at the Bath the laft feafon :
but I had one comfort in being difappointed, that you
did not want it for your health. I was there for near
eleven weeks for a cholic, that I have been often trou-
bled with of late ; but have not found all the benefit
I expefted.
I lodge, at prefent, in Btirlington-hcufe, and have
received many civilities from many great men, but
very few real benefits. They wonder at each other
for not providing for me ; and I wonder at them all.
Experience has given me fome knowledge of them ; fo
that I can fay, that it is not in their power to difap-
point me. You find I talk to you of myfelf ; I wifli
you v/ould reply to me in the fame manner. I hope,
though you have not heard of me fo long, I have not
loll my credit with you ; but that you will think of
me in the fame manner, as when you efpoufed my
caufe fo warmly; which my gratitude never can for-
get. I am, dear Sir, your moft obliged and fincere
humble fervant, J. G h. Y.
P. S. Mr. Tope, upon rea.Hng over this
letter, defirrd me to tell you, that he
has b-enjuft in the fame fentinienis
with me, in regard to you; and fliall
never forget his obligations to you.
N 4 LET-
t iS4 i
Letter ccv.
br. Swift to the Duke of G R a f t o w*
MY LORD, Dublin, Jan. 24, 1 722-3,
I RECEIVED lately from the dean of Dowxe a fa-
vourable meiTage from your grace, relating to a cler-
man, who married my near relation, and w^hofe eftate
IS much incumbered by a long fuit at law. I return
my moft humble ackriowledghients for your grace's
favourable anfwer. I can aflfure your grace, that in
thofe times, when I was thought to have fome credit
with perfons in power, I never ufed it to my own in-
terell, and very rarely for that of others, unlefs
where it was for the public advantage; neither ihall I
ever be a troublefome or common petitioner to your
grace. I am forry the archbifhop of Dulili»*il\ou\d
interpofe in petty matters, when he has juftly fo much
weight in things of greater moment. How fliall we,
the humblell of your addrefTers, make our way to the
fmalleft mark of your favour? I defired your fecre-
tary, Mr. Hopkins, (whom I have long known) to
deal plainly with me, as with a man forgotten, and
out of the world, and, if he thought my requeft un-
reafonable, I would drop it. This he failed to do j
and therefore I here complain of him to your grace,
and will do fo to himfelf, becaufe I have long done
with court anfwers.
I heartily wilh your grace full fuccefs in all your
great and good endeavours for the fervice of your
* ' Dr. Khg:
country,
t t^s 1
country, and particularly of this kingdom; and am>
with the greatell refpeft, my lord, your grace's moli
obedient and moft humble fervant,
JON AT H. SWIFT.
LETTER CCVL
Mr. Gay to Dr. Swift.
London, Feb. 7, 1722-5.
Y OU made me happy in anfwering my lall letter iit
fo kind a manner, which, to common appearance, [
did not deferve ; but I believe you gueffed my
thoughts, and knew, that I had not forgot you, and
that I always loved you. When I found, that my
book was not fent you by Tooie, "Jewais undertook it,
and gave it to Mr. MaxzueU, who married a niece of
Mr. Meredith''^. I am furprized you have heard no-
thing of it ; but Jer-vaii has promifed me to v/iite
about it, fo that I hope you will have it delivered to
you foon. Mr. CoKgreve I fee often: he always men-
tions you with the ftrongeft exprefllons of efteem and
friendfhip. He labours ftill under the fame affliftions,
as to his fight and gout; but, in his intervals of
health, he has not loft any thing of his chearful tem-
per. I paffcd all the laft feafon with him at the Bcitb,
and I have great reafon to value myfelf upon his
friendfhip ; for I am fure he fmcerely vvlfhes m.e well.
We pleafed ourfelves with the thouglits of feeing you
there ; but dukeZ)//io'> who knows more intelligence
than any body befides, chanced to give us a wrong
informs tion^
[ 186 1
information. If you had been there, the duke pro-
mifed, upon my giving him notice, to make you a
vifit. He often talks of you, and wifhes to fee you.
I was two or three days ago at Dr, Arhuthnoth, v/ho
told me, he wrote you three letters, but had received
no anfwer. He charged me to fend you his advice,
which is, to come to England, and fee your friends.
This, he affirms (abllra£led from the defire he has to
fee you) to be very good for your health. He thinks,
that your going to Spa, and drinking the waters
there, would be of great fervice to you, if you have
refolution enough to take the journey. But he would
have you try England ii\&. I like the prefcription \eiy
much, but I own, I have a felf-intereft in it; for your
taking this journey would certainly do me a great
deal of good. Pope has juft now embarked himfelf
in another great undertaking as an autjior; for, of
late, he has talked only as a gardener. He has en-
gaged to tranflate the Odv/Jey in three years, I believe
rather out of a profpeft of gain than inclination; for
I am perfuaded he bore his part in the lofs of the
South-fia. He lives mollly at T^ujickenham, and amufes
himfelf in his houfe and garden. I fupp'd about a
fortnight ago with lo-rd B-athurfi and Le^jjis at Dr. Ar-
hutkiioi's. Whenever your old acquaintance meet,
they never fail of expreffing their want of you. I
wilh you would come, and be convinced, that what
I tell you is true.
As for the reigning amufement of the town, it is
intirely mufic; real fiddles, bafs viols, and hautboys;
not poetical harps, lyres and reeds. There's no-body
c ^ allowed
[ tS; ]
allowed to fay, I Ji'ig, but an eunuch, or an Italian
woman. Everybody is grown now as great a ju>jge
of mufic, as they were, in your time, of poetry ; and
folks, that could not diflinguifh, one tune from ano-
ther, now daily difpute about the different Itiles of
Handel, Bonondni, and Attilio. People have now for-
got ^uw^r, znd. Fh-gil, s.nd Ca/hr; or, ac leaft, tliey
have loft their ranks. For in London and IVeJlminjlery
in all polite converfations, Senejino is daily voted to
be the greateft man that ever lived.
1 am obliged to you for your advice, ac I have been
formerly for your afiiftance in introducing me into bu-
iinefs. I fhall this year be a commiffioner of the ftate-
lottery, which will be worth to me a hundred and
fifty pounds. And I am not without hopes, that I
have friends, that will think of fome belter and more
certain provifton for me. You fee I talk -to you of
myfelf, as a thing of confequence to you. I judge
by myfelf; for to hear of your health and happinefs,
will always be one of my greatelt fatisfaftions. Every
ene, that 1 have named in the letter, give their fer-
vice to you. I beg you to give mine, Mr. Papers, and
Mr. Kent^s *, to IVLr. Ford. I am, dear Sir, your
moll faithful and moft humble fervant,
J. G A Y.
♦ A celebrated engraver, to whom Pope, fpeikir.g oi Fper, a feat
of the late Mr. Eelham%, pays a moft eletant corrpliment :
" V/here Kent and nature vie for lUlham^ Jove."
LET-
t i88 1
LETTER CCVIL
t)r. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift.
Indorfed,
DEAR SIR, "Received Nov. 17, 1723."
1 HAVE as good a right t© invade your folitude as
loid B , Gay, or Popej and you fee I make
life of it. I know you wifli us all at the devil for rob-
bing a moment from your vapours and veitigo. Jt is
no matter for that; you (hall have a fheet of paper
every poll till you come to yourfelf. By a paragraph
in yours to Mr. Pope, I find you are in the cafe of the
man, who held the whole night by a broom brufh,
and found when day-light appeared, he was within
two- inches of the ground. You don't feem to know
how well you ftandwith our great folks. I myfelf
have been at a great man's table, and have heard, out
of the mouths of violent h-i/h whigs, the whole ta-
ble-talk turn upon your commendation. If it had not
been upon the general topic of your good qualities,
and the good you did, I fhould have grown jealous of
you. My intention in this is not to expoftulate, but
to do you good. I know how unhappy a vertigo
makes any body, that has the misfortune to be troubled
with it. 1 might have been deep in it myfelf, if I
had a mind, and will propofe a cure for you, that I
will pawn my reputation upon. I •have of late fent
feveral patients in that cafe to the Spa, to djink there
of the Geronjier ivater, which will not carry from the
fpot. It has fucceeded marvelloufly with them all.
There
[ iS9 ]
There was indeed one, who relapfed a little this hft
funimer, becaufe he would not take my advice, and
return to his courfe, that had been too fnort the year
before. But, becaufe the inftances of eminent men
are moll confpicuous, lord JVhitn.vortb, our plenipo-
tentiary, had this difeafe, (which, by the way, is a lit-
tle difqualifying for that employment:) he was (o
bad, that he was often forced to catch hoM of any
thing to keep him from falling. I know he has reco-
vered by the ufe of that water, to fo great a degree,
thut he can ride, walk, or do any thing as formerly.
I leave this to your confideration. Your friends here
wifh to fee you, and none more than myfelf ; but I
really don't advife you to fuch a journey to gratify
them or myfelf; but I am almoft confident, it would
do you a great deal of good. The dlragoyi is jufl the
old man, when he is roufed. He is a little deaf, but
has all his other good and bad qualities juft as of old*
Lord B is much improved in knowledge, man-r
ner, and every thing elfe. The fhaver*is an honeft
friendly man as before : he has a good deal to do to
fmorher his Weljb iire, which you know, he has in a
greater degree than fome would imagine. He polls
himfelf a good part of the year in fome warm hoafe,
wins the ladies money at ombre, and convinces them,
that they are highly obliged to him. Lord and lady
M 1, Mr. Hilly and Mrs. /////, often remember
you with affeftion.
* Erasmus Leiois, Ifq; who in Dr. 5wi//'s imitation of Ilomcif
Ep. vii. B. I. is fo called :'
'* This Lnvii is an errant fliaver."
f Mapam,
As for your humble fervant, with a great Hone in
his right kidney, and a family of men and women to
provide for, he is as chearful as ever in public affairs.
He has kept, as Tacitus fays. Medium iter inter njile
fervitium et ahruptam contumaciam. He never rails at a
great man, but to his face ; which, I can affure you,
he has had both the opportunity and licence to do.
He has fonie few weak friends, and fewer enemies :
if any, he is low enough to be rather defpifed than
pudied at by them. I am faithfully, dear Sir, your
afici^ionate humble fervant,
J. ARBUTHNOT.
LETTER CCVIII.
Duchefs of Or MONO to Dr. S w i f T.
SIR, Dec. 9, 1723,
1 flND by yours of the 6th of No'vemher, which I
did not receive till lail night, that you have been fo
good as to remember your poor relation here. But aa
your three laft never came to hand, 1 think it very
happy, that you have kept your liberty thus long; for
I can't account for my not receiving them any other
way, than that they were flopped in the poft-ofHce,
and intei-preted, as mofl innocent things are, to mean
fomething very diftantfrom the intention of the writer
or aiTtor.
I am furprized at the account you give mc of that
part of Ireland you have been in : for the beft I ex-
ped from that grateful country is to be forgotten by
the
[ 19^ ]
the Inhabitants. For to remember with any kindnefs
one under the frowns of the court, is not a gift the
Irijh are endowed with. 1 am very forry to hear you
have o-ot the fpleen, where a man of your fenfe mufl
every day meet with things ridiculous enough to make
you laugh; but I am afraid, the jefts are too low to
do fo. Change of air is the beft thing in the world
for your dirtemper. And if not to cure yourfelf, at
leaft, have fo much goodnefs for your friends here, as
to come and cure us ; for it is a dittemper we over-
ran with. I am fure your company would go a great
way towards my recovery ; for I affure you, nobody
has a greater value for you than I have, and hope I
fhall have tlie good fortune to fee you before I die.
I have no fort of correfpondence with the perfon
you have not feen, and wonder at nothing they do,
or do not do.
I will let your brother * and mine knov/, that you
remembered him, in my letter. He is as good a man
as lives.
I am afraid you will vvifli you had not encouraged
my fcribblina- to you, when you find I am ftiil fuch an
infipid correfpondent ; but with that, which I hope
will make fome amends, am with' great fincerity and
refpeft, your moil faithful friend and humble fcrvant,
M. ORMOND.
* ' In the fociety of fixteen, Charla lord ButUr of JVeJlon, and
earl of Arran, brother fo the duke of OrworJ, on whofe attainder
he was elefted chancellor of the univeifity of Oxford,"
LET-
C 192 ]
LETTER CCIX.
Lord BoLiNGBROKE to Dr. Swift*.
Dec. 25, 17231
JN EVER letter came more opportunely than your
laft. The gout had made me a fecond vifit, and fe-
veral perfons were congratulating with me on the
good effefl of the waters, which had determined my
former illnefs to a diftemper fo defirable. My toe
pained me ; thefe compliments tired me; and I would
have taken my fever again to give the gout to all the
company. At that inftant your letter was delivered
to me. It cleared my brow, diverted my ill humour,
and at laft made me forget my pain. I told the per-
fons, who were fitting round my bed, and who tefti^
fied fome furprize at fo fudden a change, that this
powerful epiftle came from Ireland. At which, to fay
the truth, I did not obferve, that their furprize di-
minifhed. But the dulleft fellow among them, who
was a prieft, (for that happens to be the cafe fome-
times in this country) told the others, that Inland
formerly had htQw czMtd. Infula faniiorum : that, by
the acquaintance he had at the /r?/?' college, he made
no doubt of her deferving ftill the fame appellation:
and that they might be fure, that the three pages were
filled with matiere d'edificatiofi et 7natiere de confolatiou^
* ' This letter appears to have been written fromFravce, though
Icrd Bolingbroke had corns over to England In the la'ttr end of June
this year, in order ;o plead his pardon, which had pafled the fealg
qij the aSth of May,*
which
f »93 1
which he hoped I would be Co good as to communl-
cnte to them. A learned Rofycrudan of my acquaint-
ance, who is a fool of as much knowledge and as much
wit as ever I knew in my life, fmiled at the dodlor's
fimplicity; obferved, that the effed was too fudden
for a caufe fo heavy in its operations ; faid a great
many extravagant things about natural and theurgic
magic; and informed us, that though the fages, who
deal in occult fciences, have been laughed out of fome
countries, and driven out of others, yet there are, to
his knowledge, many of them in Ireland. I flopped
thefe gueflers, and others, who were perhaps ready,
by affuring them, that my correfpondent was neither
a faint nor a conjuror. They aflced me, what he was
then ? I anfwered, that they fhould know it from your-
felf J and opening your letter, I read to them in French
the charafter, which you draw of yourfelf. Particular
parts of it were approved or condemned by every one,
as every one's own habits induced them to judge ;
but they all agreed, that my correfpondent . flood in
need of more fleep, more viduals, lefs ale, and bet-
ter company. I defended you the beft I could ; and,
bad as the caufe was, I found means to have the
lafl word, which in difputes you know is the capital
point. The truth is, however, that I convinced no-
body, not even the weakefl of the company, that is,
myftlf.
I flatter my friendfliip for you with die hopes, that
you are really in the cafe, in which you fay, that our
friend Pope feems to be ; and that you do not know
your own character. Or did you meaji to amufe your-
VOL. II. O fdf.
ielf, like that famous painter, who, inftead of copying
nature, tried in one of his defigns, how far it was pofli-
ble to depart from his original? Whatever your inten-
tion was, I will not be brought in among thofe
friends, whofe misfortunes have given them an habi-
tual fournefs. I declare to you once for all, that I am
not unhappy, and that I never fhall be fo, unlefs I
fink under fome phyfical evil. Retrench therefore
the proportion of peevifhnefs, which you fet to my
account. You might for feveral other reafons retrench
the proportions, which yoa fet to the account of
others, and fo leave yourfelf without peevifhnefs, or
or without excufe. I lament, and have always la-
mented,, your being placed in Ireland ; but you are
worfe than peevilh, you are unjuft, when you fay,
that it was either not in the power or will of a mini-
ftry to place you in England. Write minijiery friend
Jonathan, and fcrape out the words, either, po^juer, or ;
after which the pafiage will run as well, and be con-
formable to the truth of things. I know but one
man * who had power at that time, and that wretched
man had neither the will nor the fkill to make a good
ufe of it.
We talk of charaflers ; match me that, if you can,
among all the odd phoenomena, which have appeared
in the moral world. I have not a Tacitus by me ; but
I believe, that I remember your quotation, and as a
mark that I hit right, I make no comment upon it.
As you defcribe your public fpirit, it feems to me to
be a difeafe, as well as your peevifhnefs. Your pro-
* Lord Oxford.
■.-..I pofals
C «95 1
pofals for reforming the ftate are admirable ; and your
fchemes concife. With refpeft to your humble fer-
vant, you judge better than you did in a letter I re-
ceived from you about four years ago. You feemed at
that time not fo afraid of the nightingale's falling
into the ferpent's mouth. This refledlion made me
recolletSt, that I writ you at that time a long epiftle in
metre. After rumaging among my papers I found it,
and fend it with my letter : it will ferve to entertaia
you the firft faft-day. I depend on the fidelity of
your friendlhip, that it Ihall fall under no eye but
your own. Adieu.
I read in Englijh (for fhe underflands it) to a certain
lady, the pafTage of your letter, which relates to her.
The Latin I moft generoufly concealed. She defires
you to receive the compliments of one, who is fo far
from being equal to fifty others of her fex, that fhe
never found herfelf equal to any one of them. She
fays, that fhe has neither youth nor beauty, but that
Ihe hopes on the long and intimate acquaintance fhe
has had with you, when you meet, if that ever hap-
pens, to call fuch a mift before your eyes, that you
ihall not perceive (he wants either of them.
O 2. LET-
[ 196 T .
LETTER CCX.
Lord C — ' * to Dr. Swift,
SIR, Arlington-ftreet, June 20, 1724.
i. O begin by confefling myfelf in the wrong will, I
hope, be fome proof to you, that none of the ftations,
which I have gone through, have hitherto had the
efFefls upon me, which you apprehend. If a month's
lilence has been turned to my difadvantage in your
efteem, it has at leaft had this good efFedl, that I am
convinced by the kindnefs of your reproaches, as well
as by the goodnefs of your advice, that you ftill retain
fome part of your former friendlhip for me, of which I
am the more confident from the agreeable freedom
with which you exprefs yourfelf : and I fliall not for-
forfeit my pretenfions to the continuance of it, by
doing any thing, thatfhall give youoccafion to think,
that I am infenfible of it.
But to come to the point : your firft letter is dated
28th May, your fecond the 9th oi Jutie. By the date
of this you will fee, that the interval of lilence may
be accounted for by a few excurfions, which I have
made into the country ; therefore 1 delire you will put
the moll favourable fenfe.
* Lord C was then lord lieutenant of Ireland. In the
letter, to which this is an anfwer, the Dean complained, that a
former letter had been a month unanfwered. For both thefe let-
ters of the Dean fee the volumes publifiied by Mr. Deans Swifty
in 1765.
The
t «97 ] ■
The principal aftair you mention is under examina-
tion * ; and till that is over, I am not informed fufE-
ciently to make any other judgment of the matter,
than that, which I am naturally led to make, by the
general averllon, which appears to it in the whole
nation.
I hope the nation will not fufFcr by my being In
this great ftatlon ; and if I can contribute to its prof-
perity, I fhall think it the honour and happinefs of
my life. I defire you to believe what I fay, and par-
ticularly when I profefs myfclf to be with great truth.
Sir, your moft faithful and afteftionate humble fer-
vant, C.
X E T T E R CCXr.
Lord C to Dr. S w i f r.
SIR, Arlington ftreet, Aug. 4, 1724.
Your claim to be the laft writer is what lean
never allow: that is the privilege of ill writers. And
I am refolved to give you compleat fatisfaftlon by
leaving it with you, whether I (hall be that laft writer
or not. Methinks I fee you throw this letter upon
your table in the heighth of fpleen, becaufe it may
have interrurted fome of your more agreeable
thoughts. But then, in return, you may have the
* « Probably that of Mr. W«od\ patent for coining halfpence
^nd farthings for Ireland, v.hich was lefcncd to the lords of the
privy co'incil of Ergland, who, on the 24th oi July, 1724, drew
up a repo;t, juftifying the patentee.'
O 3 comfort
t I9S 1
comfort of not anfwering it, and fo convince my lord
lieutenant, that you value him lefs now than you did
ten years ago. I don't know but this might become
a free fpeaker and a philofopher. Whatever you
may think of it, I fhall not be tefty, but endeavour
to (hew, that I am not altogether infenfible of the
force of that genius, which hath outfhone moftof this
age, and when you will difplay it again, can convince
us, that its luflre and ftrength are Hill the fame.
Once more I commit myfelf to your cenfure, and
am. Sir, with great refpeft, your moft afFeftionate
humble fervant, C *.
LETTER CCXIL
Lord BoLiNGBROKE to Dr Swift.
Sep. 12, 1724.
I T is neither ficknefs, nor journeys, nor ill humours,
nor age, nor vexation, nor ftupidity, which has hin-
dered me from anfwering fooner your letter of the
month of June; but a very prudent confideration,
and one of the greateft drains of policy I ever exercifed
in my life. Should I anfwer you in a month, you
might think yourfelf obliged to anfwer me in fix; and,
feared at the fore fatigue of writing twice a year to
an abfent friend, you might (for ought either you or
1 can tell) flop fhort and not write at all. Now this
would difappoint all my projeds; for, to confefs the
* See the letter, to which this is an anfwer, in the volumes pu-
bliflied by Mr, Dcane Sivi/t.
truth.
C »99 3
trutli, I have been drawing you in thefe feveral years,
and by my paft fuccefs, I begin to hope, that in about
ten more, I may eftablifh a right of hearing from ycu
once a quarter. The gout neither clears my head,
nor warms my imagination, and I am afliamed to own
to you, how near the truth I kept in the defcription of
what pafTcd by my bedfide in the reading of your let-
ter. The fcene was really fucb as I painted it ; and
the company was much better than you feem to think
it. When I, who pafs a great part, very much the
greateft, of my life alone, fally forth into the world,
I am very far from expecting to improve myfelf by the
converfation I find there ; and IHU farther from car-
ing one jot of what pafTes there. In fhort, I am no
longer the bubble you knew me ; and therefore, when
I mingle in fociety, it is purely for my amufement.
If mankind divert me (and I defy them to give me
your diflemper, the fpleen) it is all I exped: or afic
of them. By this fincere confeffion you may perceive,
that your great mafters of reafon are not for my turn;
their thorough bafs benumbs my faculties. I feek
the fiddle or the flute, fomething to raife, or fome-
thing to calm my fpirits agreeably; gay flights, or
foothing images. I do not diflike a fellow, \vho(e
imagination runs away with him, and who has wit
enough to be half mad ; nor him, who atones for a
fcanty imagination by an ample fund of oddnefles
and Angularity. If good fenfe and great knowledge
prevail a little two much in any charafter, I defire
there may be at leafl: fome latent ridicule, which may
be called forth upon occaflon and render the perfon a
O 4 tolerable
[ 200 ]
tolerable companion. By this Iketch you may jud<Te
of my acquaintance. The dead friends, with whom
I pafs my time, you know. The living ones are of
the fame fort, and therefore few.
I pafs over that part of your letter, which is a kind
of an elegy on a departed minifler * ; and I promife
you folemnly neither to mention him, nor think of
him more, till I come to do him juftice in an hiftory
of the firft twenty years of this century, which I be-
lieve I fhall write, if I live three or four years longer.
But I muft take a little more notice of the paragraph
which follows. The verfes I fent you are very bad,
becaufe they are not very good: tnediccrihus ejje poet is
ncn tin non homines, ^c. J did not feud them to be
admired ; and you would do ihem too much honour,
if you criticized them. Po/t? took the beft party ; for
he faid not one word to me about them. All I defire
of you is to confider them as a proof, that you have
never been out of my thoughts, though you have been
fo long out of my fight ; and, if 1 remember you upon
paper for the future, it Ihall be in profe.
I muft, on this occafion fet you right, as to an opi-
nion, Vv'hich I Ihould be very forry to have you enter-
tain concerning me. The term ejprit fort, in EvgUJh
free-thinker, is, 'according to my obfervation, ufually
appUed to them, whom I look upon to be the pefls of
ibciety; becaufe their endeavours are diredted to loofen
{i\t. bands of it, and to take at leafl one curb out of
the mouth of that wild beaft man, v.hcn it would be
* The carf of Oxford, who died in June, i-jz^,
well
[ 201 ]
well if he was checked by half a fcore others. Nay,
they go farther. Revealed religion is a lofty and
pompous ftru6ture, eredled clofe to the humble and
plain building of natural religion. Some have objefted
to you, who are the architects et les concierges (we want
that word in EngUJl:)) of the former, to you who build,
or at leafl repair the houfe, and who fliew the rooms,
that, to ftrengthen fome parts of your own building,
you fhake and even fap the foundation of the other.
And between you and I, Mr. Dean, this chai-ge may
be juftified in feveral inftances; but ftill your inten-
tion is not to.demolifh : whereas the effrit fort, or the
free-thinker, is fo fet upon pulling down your houfe
about your ears, that if he was let alone, he wouid
deftroy the other for being fo near it, and mingle
both in one common ruin. I therefore not only dif-
own, but deleft this charafter. If indeed by efprif
fort, or free-thinker, you only mean a man, who
makes a free ufe of his reafon, who fearches after
truth without paffion or prejudice, and adheres invio-
lably to it, you mean a wife and honefl man, and
fuch an one as I labour to be. The faculty of di-
llinguifhing between right and wrong, true and falfe,
which we call reafon, or common fenfa, which is given
to' every man by our bountiful Creator, and which
moft men lofe by negleft, is the light of the m?nd,
and ought to guide all operation's of it. To abandon'
tliis rule, and to guide our thoughts by any other, is
full as abfurd, as it would be, if you Ihould put out
your eyes, and borrow even the beft ftafF, that ever
was in the family of the ftafts, when you fet out upon
one
cnt of your dirty journeys. Such free-thinkers as
thefe I am fure you cannot, even in your apoflolical
capacity, difapprove: for iince the truth of the divine
revelation of Chriftianity is as evident, as matters of
of faft, on the belief of which fo much depends,
ought to be, and agreeable to all our ideas of juftice,
thefe free-thinkers muft needs be Chriftians on the bell
foundation; on that, which St. Patel himfelf elta-
blifhed, I think it was St. Paul, omnia probate, quod
honum ejl, temte.
But you have a further fecurity from thefe fiec-
thinkers, I do not fay a better, and it is this : the
perfons I am defcribing think for themfelves, and to
themfelves. Should they unhappily not be convinced
hy your arguments, yet they will certainly think it
their duty not to difturb the peace of the world by
oppofing you *. The peace and happinefs of man-
kind is the great aim of thefe free-thinkers; and,
* Nothttithflanding the decla'^atlon'; made by lord BoJing^^rohe in
this letter, he left his writings againft religion to Mr. Mallet, wiih
a view to their being pubiifhed, as appears by his will j and with a
pofitive and dire£l injundlion to publiih them, as appears by a let-
ter from Mr. Mallet to lord Ilyde, vifcount Cornbury, now in ihe
Brhijh Mufeum. We have theiefore his )ordfliip's own authority
to fay, that he was one of the pefts of fociety, even if the opinions,
uhich he has advanced againfl religion, are true ; for his endeavour
is certainly direded tj Icofen :he band of it, ar,d to take at Jeaft
one curb out of the mouth of that wild b.-aft man. Exprefly to di-
jefl the publ cation of writings, which, he believed, would fubvert
the morals and the happinefs of fociety, at a time when he could
derive no private advantage from the mifchiefs, was perhaps an aft
of wickednefsmore purely d'abolical, than anv hitherto upon record
hi the hiftory of any age or nation. Mallet had a pecuniary tempta-
tion
[ 203 ]
therefore, as tliofe among them, who remain increclii-
lous, will not oppofe you, fo thofe, whom reafon,
enlightened by grace, has made blievers, may be forry,
and may exprefs their forrovv, as J have done, to fee.
religion perverted to purpofes fo contrary to her true
intention, and firlt defign. Can a good Chriftian be-
hold the minifters of the meek and humble Jejus ex-
ercifing an infolent and cruel ufurpation over their
brethren ? Or the meflengers of peace and good news
fetting all mankind together by the ears r Or that
religion which breathes charity and univerfal benevo-
lence, fpilling more blood, upon refleftion and by
fyllem, than the moll barbarous heathen ever did ia
the heat of aclion, and fury of conqueftr Can he be-
hold all this without an holy indignation, and not
be criminal ? Nay, when he turns his eyes from thofe
tragical fcenes, and confiders the ordinary tenour of
things, do you not think he will be Ihocked to ob-
tion to aflTaHlnate the morals and happinefs of h's country at Boling'
hroke'i inftiga'ion : his crime tberer.re is not equally a proof of
natural depravity, though it is impoflibk to ("uppofe he had lefs con-
vidtion of the mifchie' he was d ing ; and it is aifo impoffibk to
fuppofe, that he could ferioufly think. a!iy obligation to pr nt Bo-
I'lngbrokes infidcli'y, in confequ^nce of his injiniflion, equival'-nt
to the obi gallon he was under to furprei's it, ar.fing from the doty,
which, as a man, he owed to huir.an naMie.
'J he paragraph in lord Bohngbrokei w 11, by which Kis wiritingt
are bequeathed X.o Mallst, the letter, which lord Combury wrote to
Mallet, upon hearing he was about 'o publi/h the»letter^, incloding
thofe on Sacreri hiftoiy, and Mallet's anfwer, aie, for the reader'
fit sfadtioh, printed at the end of this collection. Lord Comburfi
letter is a monument, that will do more honour to his memo-y,
than all tha' mere wit or valour has atchiered fince the world began.
ferve
s
[ 204 I
ferve metaphyfics fubftltuted to the theory, and cere-
mony to the praftice of morality?
T make no doubt but you are by this time abun-
dantly convinced of my orthodoxy, ^nd that you will
name me no more in the fame breath with Spinofa^
whofe fyftem of one infinite fubftance I defpife and
abhor, as I have a right to do, becaufe I am able to
ihew why I defpife and abhor it.
You defire me to return home, and you promife me,
in that cafe, to come to London, loaden with your tra-
vels. I am forry to tell you, that London is, in my
apprehenfion, as little likely as Dublin to be our place
of rendezvous. The reafons for this apprehenfion I
pafsover; but I cannot agree to what you advance
with the air of a maxim, that exile is the greatefl pu-
nifhment to men of virtue, becaufe virtue confifls in
loving our country. Examine the nature of this love,
from whence it arifes, how it is nourifhed, what the
bounds and meafures of it are ; and after that, you
will difcover, how far it is virtue, and where it ber
comes fircpliclty, prejudice, folly, and even enthu-
fiafm. A virtuous man in exile may properly enough
be iHled unfortunate ; but he cannot be called unhappy.
You remember the reafon, which Brutus gave, be-
caiife, wherever he goes, he carries his virtue with
him. There is a certain bulky volume, which grows
daily, and the title of which muft, I think, be Koc^et
Gallics. There, you may perhaps one day or other
fee a difTertation upon this fubjcdl : and to return you
threatening for threatening, you Ihall be forced to
3 read
[ 20S }
read it out, though you yawn from the firft to the laft
page.
-The word Ireland was ftruck out of the paper you
mention ; that is, to fatisfy your curiofity, and to
kindle it anew, I will tell you, .that this anecdote,
which I know not how you came by, is neither the
only one, nor the moft confiderable one of the fame
kind. The perfon you are fo inquifitive about *,
returns into England the latter end of Odober. She
has fo great a mind to fee you, that I am not fure fhe
will not undertake a journey to Dublin. It is not fo
far from London to Dublin, as from Spain to Padua ;
and you are as well worth feeing as Li'vy. But I had
much rather you would leave the humid climate and
the dull company, in which, according to your ac-
count, a man might grow old between twenty and
thirty. Set your foot on the continent ; I dare pro-
mife, that you will, in a fortnight, have gone back
the ten years you lament fo much, and be returned to
that age, at which I left you. With what pleafure
Ihould I .hear you inter vina fugam Stella; moerere pro*
tirv(t? Adieu.
* His lordfhip's fecoad wife, a Frtnch lady.
LET-
[ 2C6 ]
LETTER CCXin.
L' Abbe des Fontaines * a Monfieur Swift.
A Parisj le 4 Juillet, 1725.
J A I I'honneur, monfieur, de vous envoyer la 2de
edition de votre onvrage, que j'ai traduit en Francois.
Je vous aurois envoye la premiere, fi je n'avois pas
ete oblige, pour des raifons, que je ne puis vous dire,
d'inferer dans la preface un endroit, dont vous n'au-
riez pas eu lieu d'etre content, ce que j'ai mis affure-
ment malere moi. Comme le livre s'eft debite fans
contradiftion, ces raifons ne fubfiftent plus, et j'ai
auffitot fupprime cet endroit dans la 2de edition, com-
me vous verrez. J'ai auITi corrige I'endroit de mon-
fieur Carteret, fur lequel j'avois eu de faux memoires.
Vous trouverez, monfieur, en beaucoup d'endroits
one traduftion peu fidele; mais tout ce qui plait en
Angleterre, n'a pas ici le meme agrement; foit parce
que les mosurs font difFerentes, foit parceque que les
allufions et les allegories, qui font fenfibles dans
une pays, ne les font pas dans une autre; foit
enfin parce que le gout des deux nations n'efi: pas
le meme. J'ai voulu donner aux Francois un livre,
qui fut a leur ufage : voila ce qui m'a rendu
tradufleur libre et peu fidele. J'ai meme pris
* Veter Francis G:.yet Jes Fontaines, born at Roan in Normandy,
29 y:ine, 1685. He entered into the fociety ofthejefuils in 1700}
but quittea it fix'een years after. He liv'd for fume years with the
cardinal d" Awvergne, and d ed at Paris, 16 December 1745, being
well known for feveial works, and partii ularly for his Ohfsrvatiom
Jur ks ecriti tnsdernes, in a great number of volurr.es,
la
[ 207 1
la liberie d'ajouter, felon que voire imagination eft
echauiroit la mienne. C'eft a vous feul, monfieur,
que je fuis redevable de I'honneur, que me fait jcette
tradudion, qui a ete debltee icy, avec une rapidire
etonnante, et done il y'a dcja trois editions. Je fuis
penetre d'une 11 grande eftlme pour vous, etjevous
fuis fi oblige, qui fi la fuppreffion, que j'ai faite, ne
vous fatisfait pas entierenient, je fairai volontiers en-
core d'avantage pour efFacer jufqu'au fouvcnir de cet
endroit de la preface: au furplus je vous fupplie,
monfieur, de vouloir bien faire attention a la julHce,
que je vous ai rendu dans la meme preface.
On fe flatte, monfieur, qu'on aura bien tot I'hon-
neur de vous poffeder ici. Tous vos amis vous attcn-
dent avec impatience. On ne parle ici que de votre
arrivee ; et tout Paris fouhaitte de vous voir. Ne
deferres pas notre fatisfadtion : vous verrez un peuple,
qui vous eftime infinement. En attendant je vous de-
mande, monfieur, I'honneur de votre amitie, et vous
prie d'etre perfuade, que perfonne n.e vous honore
plus que moi, et n'ell avec plus de confideration et
d'eflime, votre tres humble, et tres obeiflant ferviteur,
L' Abbe des FONTAINES.
Mr. Arbutbr:ot a bien voulu fe charger
de vous fair tenir ceite lettre avec
Vexmplaire, que j'ai I'honneur de vous
envoyer.
L E Tr
[ 20S 3
LETTER CCXIV.
Reponse de Monfieur Swift.
1 L y a plus d'un mols que j'ay recue votre lettre du
4 de JuiUcty Monfieur ; mais I'exemplaire de zde edi-
tion de votre ouvrage ne m'a pas ete encore remis.
J'ay lu la preface de la premiere ; et vous me per-
mettrez devous dire, que j'ay ete fort furpris d'y voir,
qu'en me donnant pour patrie un pais, dans lequel je
fuis ne, vous ayez trouve a propos de m'attribuer un
livre, qui porte le nom de fon auteur, qui a eu le mal-
heur de deplaire a quelques uns de nos miniftres, et
qui jen'ay jamais avoue. Cette plainte, qui je fais
de votre conduite a mon egard, ne m'empeche pas de
vous rendre juftice. Les tradufteurs donnent pour la
plupart des louangcs exceflives aux ouvrages, qu'ih
traduifent, et s'imaginent peut etre, que leur reputa-
tion depend en quelque fa9on de celles des auteurs,
quil's ont choiiis. Mais vous avez fenti vos forces,
qui vous mettent au deflus de pareilles precautions.
Capable de corriger un mauvais livre, enterprife plus
difHcile, que celle d'en compofer un bon, vous n'avez
pas craint de donner au public la traduftion d'un ou-
vrage, que vous aflurez etre plein de pollifoneries, de
fottifes, de puerilites, Uc. Nous convenons icy, que
le gout des nations n'eft pas toujours le meme. Mais
nous fommes portes a croire, que le bon gout eft meme
le par tout, ou il y a des gens d'efprit, de jugement
et de fcavoir. Si done les livres du fieur Gulli'vtr ne
font calcules que pour les ifles Brita?miques, ce voya-
geur
[ 209 ]
geur doit pafler pour un tres pitoyabic ecrivain. Lej
memes vices et le memes follies regnent par tout ; du
snoins, dans tous les pais civilifes de V Europe : et I'au-
teur, qui n'ecrit que pour une ville, une province, un
royaume ou raeme un iiecle, merite fi pcu d'etre tra-
duit, qu'il ne merite pas d'etre lu.
Les partifans de ce Gullivery qui ne laiflent pas
d'etre en fort grand nombre chez nous ; foutlennent,
que fon livre durera autant que notre langage, parce
qu'il ne tire pas fon merite de certaines modes ou ma-
nieres de penfer et de parler, mais d'une fuite d'ob-
fervations fur les imperfeflions, les follies, ct les vi-
ces de I'homme.
Vous jugez bien, que les gens, dont je viens de
vous parler, n'approvent pas fort votre critique, et
vousferez fans douce furpris defcavoir, qu'ils regardenC
ce chirurgien de vaifTeau, comme un auteur grave,
qui ne fort jamais de fon ferieux, qui n'emprunte au-
cun fard, qui ne fe pique point d'avoir I'efprit, et
qui fe contente de communiquer au public dans urie
narration fimple et naive les avantares, qui lui font
arrivees, et les chofes, qu'il a vu ou entendu dir«
pendant fes voyages.
Quant a I'article qui regarde my lord Carteret, fans
m*informer d'ou vous tirez vos memoires, je vous di-
ray, que vous n'avez ecrit que la moitie de la verite ;
et que ce Drapier ou reel ou fuppofe a fauve VIrlandei
en mettant toute la nation contre un projet, qui devoit
enrichir au depenfe du public un certain nombre de
particuliers.
Vol. II. P Plufieurs
[ 2 10 ]
Plufieurs accidens, qui font arrivCj m'einp.echeront
de faire le voyage de Fr<z»ff prefentement, et je ne
fiiis plus aflez jeune pour me Hatter de retrouver ua&
autre occafion. Je fcais, que j'ay perdu beaucoup, et
je fuis tres lerjfible a cette perte. L'unique confola-
tion, qui me relle, c'eft de fonger, que j'en fuppor-i
teray mieux la pais, au quel la fortune m'a condamne.
Jefuis, Sec.
LETTER CCXV.
Lord BoLiNGBROKE tQ Dr. Swift.
London, July 24, 1725.
JVl R. Forii will tell you how I do, and what I do.
Tired with fufpence, the only infupportable misfor-
tune of life, I defired, after nine ye^us of autumnal
promifes and vernal excufes, a deci£on ; and very lit-
tle cared what that decifion was, provided it left me a
liberty to fettle abroad, or put rne on a foot of living
agreeably at home. The wifdom of the nation has
thought fit, inilead of granting foreafonabis lequeft,
to pafs an aft, which fixing my fortune-unalterably to
this country, fixes n^^y perfon hers alfo ; and thofe,
who had tile leaft mind to fee me in England, have
made it impoflible for m« to live any where elfe.
Here I am then, two-thirds reftored, my perfon fafe,
(unlefs I meet hereafter with harder treatment than
even that of. Sir Walter Raleigh) and my eftate, with
all the other property I have 'acquired, oj may ac-
quire, fecured to me. But the attainder is kept care-
fully
[ 211 ]
fally and prudently in force, left fo corrupt a membef-
ihould come aeain into the houfe of lords, and his
bad leaven fhould four that Aveet, untainted mafs.
Thus much I thought 1 might fay about my private
affairs to an old friend, without diverting him too
long from his labours to promote the advantage of
the church and Hate of Ireland; or, from his travels
into thofe countries of giants and pigmies, fioni
whence he imports a cargo I value at an higher rate
than that of the richeft galeon. Ford brought the
dean of Derry* to fee me. Unfortunately for me, I
was then out of town ; and the journey of the former
into Irela7id\y\\\ perhaps defer for fome time my making
acquaintance with the other ; which I am ferry for. I
would not by any means lofe the opportunity of know-
ing a man, who can efpoufe in good earneft the fy-
ftem of father Malkbranche, and who is fond of go-
ing a miffionary into the Wefi Indies f. My zeal for
* Dr. Berkeley.
■f- Dr. Beikelif formed a defign of fixing an iiniverfity in Bermw
das, for the improverr.ent cf our colonies, and the education of
Indians, to be employid as m'flionarjes among their countrymen.
For this college he obtained a charter, in which he was appointei
prcfident, and a certain number of fellows, felefted by himfej^fj
were incorporated J but the defign mifcarried for want of money.
The fyftem of Malkbranche here rcferied to was, " that our ideas
are distinct from our underftanding, and thai: we fee all things in
God." In other wcrds, that material objedls are not the caufes of
our ideas. Bcrkdey, in the early part of his life, wrute ad fTcna-
tion aga'nft ihe exiftence of ma'e.'iel beings, and external objeils,
with fuch fub.ilty, that Wh'.jlon acknowledged himi'elf unable to
confu;© it, and recommended the taflc to Dr. Clarki, The Dodor
however did not pciform it j and the difiertation remains unan-
P z fwered
the propogatlon of the Gofpel will hardly cany me
fo far ; but my fpleen againft Europe has, more than
once, made me think of buying the dominion o{ Ber-
mudas, and fpending the remainder of my days as far
as poflible from thofe people, with whom I have pad
the firft and greateft part of my life. Health and
every other natural comfort of life is to be had there,
better than here. As to imaginary and artificial plea-
fures, we are philofophers enough to defpife them.
What fay you? Will you leave your Hibernian flock
to fome other fhepherd, and tranfplant yourfelf with
me into the middle of the Atlantic ocean ? We will
form afociety more reafonable, and more ufeful, than
that of doctor Berkeley^, college: and I promife you
folemnly, as fupreme magiftrate, not to fuifer the
currency of Wooa's halfpence : nay, the coiner o-f
them fhall be hanged, if he prefumes to fet his foot
on our ifland.
Let me hear how you are, and what you do ; and
if you really have any latent kindnefs ftill at the bot-
tom of your heart for me, fay fomething very kind
to me, for I don't dillike being cajoled. If your
heart tells you nothing, fay nothing, that I may take
the hint, and wean myfelf from you by degrees. Whe-
ther I ihall compafs it or no, God knows : but, furely
fwered to this time, except what has been attempted by Baxter m
hii treatifa on the foul.
Bay/e fays, that Mallebranche's fyftem was only that of De-
nucritut, arrended and unfolded.
See a farther account of Dr. Berkeley, in a letter from Siv/t to
loii Carteret, dated September 3, 1724, lately published in two poft-
humous volumes by Mr, D^r.t Swift,
this
[ 213 ]
this is the propereft place in the world to renounce
friendfhip in, or to forget obligations. Mr. Ford
fays, he will be with us again by the beginning of
the winter. Your y?^*- * will probably hinder you
from taking the fame journey. Adieu, dear Dean. I
had fomething more to fay to you, almoft as impor-
tant as what I have faid already, but company comes
in upon me, and relieves you.
LETTER CCXVI.
Dr. Swift to Mr. WoRRALLf.
DEAR JACK, Gallftown, Sept. 14, 1721,
1 ANSWERED your letter long ago, and have little
to fay at prefent. I fhall be in town by the beginning
of next month, altho* a fit of good weather would
tempt me a week, longer ; for I never faw or heard of
fo long a continuance of bad, which ha- hindered me
from feveral little rambles intended; but I row or
ride every day, in fpite of the rain, in fpite of a broken
fhin, or falling into the lakes, and feveral other
trifling accidents. Pray what have you done with
the Litchfitld man ? Hath he mended his voice, or is
* Mrs. yohnf.n the lady wh m he celebrated by the name oi Stella*
•f This gentleman was a foundling, and Sivift ufed to call him
Melehijedeck, becaufe Mekhtfedeck is faid to have n. ither father nor
mother : he was a clergyman, a njafter of arts, a reader, and a
vicar of Siv'tft's cathedral, and mafter of the fong : he was nearly
of th; Dean's own (landing in the college, had good fenfe, and
much food humour. His wife was a woman of great fprightlinels,
good natuie, and generofity ; remark ibly cleanly, and elegant id
her houfe, and at her table ; the Dean therefore was of bis gvttfltf
aad contrailtd great intimacy with him,
P 3 u
E 214 3
Jie content to fit down with his Chriftchurch prefer-
ment f I doubt Mrs. Brent will be at a lofs about her
jnduftjy-books, for want of a new leaf, with a lift
^rawa of the debtors. I know you are fuch a bungler
yoi; cannot do it, and therefore I defire that you
would, in a loofe facet of paper, make a furvey lift
in your bungling manner, as foon as fhe wants it,
and let that ferve till 1 come. Prefent my fervice to
Mrs. Worrall, I wonder how you and fhe and your
heir have fpent the fummer, and how often you have
been at Dunleary, and v/hether you have got her ano-
ther horfe, and whether fhe hates dying and the coun-
try as much as ever. — Defire Mrs. Brent, if a mef-
fenger goes from hence, to give him my fuftian waift-
■goat, becaufe the mornings grow cold. I have now
and then fome threatnings with ray head ; but have
fiever been abfolutely giddy above a minute, and
cannot complain of my health, 1 thank Cod. Pray
■fend them inclofed to the poft-ofhce. I hear you
Jiave let your houfe to Mrs. Dopping, who will be a
good teriant if fhe lives. I fuppofe your new houfe
is iiniflaed, and if Mrs. IVorrall does not air it v/ell,
it may get you a new wife, which I would not have
you telJ her, becaufe it will do the bufinefs better
than a boat at 'Qalky. I hope you have ordered an
account of abfent vicars, and that their behaviour has
.not been fo.bad as ufual during my ficknefs in townj
iif fo, 1 have but an ill fub-dean.
I am, Sir, yours, ^c.
." |?,;S. Tell Mrs. BtetJt, that, if Lloyd zgrees, I will but be glad
one of his ho^fheads was left iinrdck'd.
ul L E T-
[ 215 3
LETTER CCXVII.
Dr. Swift to the Rev. Mr. Worrall.
Quilca, July 12, 1725.
1 HAVE received your letter, and thank you heartily
for it. I know not any body, except yourfelf, who
would have been at fo much trouble to affift me, and
who could have fo pfood fuccefs, which I take as
kindly as if you had faved me from, utter ruin. Al-
though I have witnefTes that I afted with indifFerency
enough, when I was fure I was not worth a groat, be-
sides my goods. There appears to be only one hundred
pounds remaining, according to my account, (except
this laft quarter) and if I lofe it, it is a trifle in com-
parifon of what you have recovered for me. I think
Mr. Pratt hath acted very generoufly, and like a true
friend, as I always took him to be'i and I ha^"^ like-
wife good witnefTes to Avear, that I was more con*
cerned at his misfortunes than my own. And fo re-
peating my thanks to you, but not able to exprefs
them as I ought, I (hall fay no more on this fabjecl,
only that you may enquire where the money may be
fafely put out at fix pounds per cent. I beg pardon
that I did not compute the intercfl of Sir W'llliam
Fo-Tjunes^s money, which reduces what is due to me
about fifty-nine pounds. All of confequence is my
note to him for one hundred pounds.
I gave over all hopes of my hay, as much as I did
of my nwpey ; for I reckoned the weatho had ruined
it; but your good management can conquer the wea-
P 4 ther.
C 2l6 ]
^er. But Charles Grattan^ the critic, fays the cocks
are too large, confidering the bad weather, and that
there is danger they may heat. You know beft.
Mrs. yohn/on fays you are an ill manager; for you
have loft me above thiee hundred apples, and only
faved me twelve hundred pounds.
Do not tell me of difficulties how to keep the —
from the wall-fruit *. You have got fo ill a reputa-
tion by getting my money, that I can take no ex-
cufe ; and .1 will have the thing effe»Elually done,
though it fhould coll me ten groats. Pray let the
ground be levelled as you pleafe, as it muft likwife be
new dunged, as good hufbandry requires; friend El-
lis will affiil you.
I am quite undone by the knavery of Sheriff and
White, and all you have done for me with Mr. Pi ait
iignifies nothing, if I muft lofe ten pounds.
I had your letter about Mrs. John/on s money, and
ihe thanks you for your care ; and fays, confidering
her poverty, you have done as much for her as for me.
But I thought my letter to you was enough, without
a letter of attorney ; for all money matters I am the
greateft cully alive.
Little good may do you with your favourable wea-
ther; we had but five good days thefe twelve weeks.
The ladies are pretty well ; but Mrs. Joh/i/oTj, after
a fortnight's great amendment, had yefterday a very
bad day ; fhe is now much better. They both pre-
fent their humble fervice to Mrs. Worrall, and fo do I,
and am ever yours, ^c,
• In NaietFt vineyard,
4 >
[ 217 1
Jo. who brings you this, defired me to lend him
twenty pounds, which I very prudt<:tly refufed ; but
faid, if he would leave the worth oi it in foan and
candles in the deanry-houfe, Mrs. Br. "t viewing
them, I would empower you, as I d- hereby, to pay
him twenty pounds, and place it tu my accoimt.
JONATH. SWIFT.
Pray defire Mrs. Brent t^ ha-e ready a hngfheai of
bottles packed up £S uTual, of the fame wine
with the kit Ihe fent, and the next carrier fnall
have orders to call for it.
Let Mrs. Brent take out what candles or foap are
neceflary for the ladies, and only as much as will
empty two of the boxes, that Jo. may have them j
I mean outof thofe boxes which he is to leave at
the deanry for mv fecurity for the twenty pounds,
which he is to receive from you.
LETTER CCXVIIL
Dr. Swift to Mr. Wo r r a l l.
Quilca, Aug. 27, 1725.
I WAS heartily forry to hear you had got the gout,
being a dileafe you have fo little pretence to; for you
have been all your life a great walker, and a little
driuker. Although it be no matter how you got your
dileafe, fince it vvas n^t by your vices ; yet I do not
love to think 1 waa an ii ftrument, ly leading you a
walk of eiglit or nine miles, where your pride to ihew
your
[ 2l8 ]
your adivity in leaping down a ditch hurt yonr foot
in fuch a manner, as to end in your prelent difeafe.
I have not yet heard of Mr. Webb, and if he fnould
come here, I can do nothing with him ; for 1 fhall
not take my own judgment, but leave it to fome able
lawyer to judge and recommend the fecurity ; for
now it is time for me to learn fome worldly wifdom.
I thank you for the purchafe you have made of
BriJic-iV beer ; it will foon pay for itfelf, by faving
me many a bottle of vvinc ; but I am afraid it is not
good for your gout.
My deafnefs hath left me above three weeks, and
therefore I expeft a vifit from it foon ; and it is fome-
what lefs vexatious here in the country, becaufe none
are about me but thofe who are ufed to it.
Mrs. JVorraWs obfervation is like herfelf ; flie Is an
abfolute corrupted city lidy, and does not know the
pleafu'cs of the country, even of this place, with all
its millions of inconveniencies. But Mrs. Dinghy is
of- her opinion, and would rather live in a Dublin
cellar than a country palace.
I would fain have a Ihed thrown up in the fartheft
corner of Naboth's vineyard, towards the lower end of
§^ebh's garden, till I can find leifure and courage to
build abetter in the center of the field. Can it be
done .''
The weather continues as foul as if there had not
been a""day of rain in the fummer, and it will have
feme very ill effect on the kingdom.
I gave yaci Grattan the papers correfled, and I
think half fpoiled, by the cowardly caution of him
3 ^""^
[ 219 ]
and others. He promifed to tranfcribe them tlms
enough, and my defire is they may be ready to be
publiflied upon- the firft day the parliament meets. I
hope you will contrive it among you that it may be
fent unknown (as ufual) to fome printer, with proper
direftions. Ihrid lately a letter without a name, tel-
ling me, that I have got a fop to hold my tongue,
and that it is determined we muft have that grievance,
i^c. forced on us.
My intention is to return about the beginning of
03ober, if my occafions do not hinder me. Before
that time it will be feen how the parliament will aft.
Them who talk with me think they will be flaves as
ufual, and led where the government pleafes.
My humble fervice to Mrs. Worrall. The ladies
prefent theirs to you both.
J. S W I F T.
LETTER CCXIX.
Dr. Swift to the Rev. Mr. Worrall.
Qu^ilca, Aug. 31, 17x5.
1 HAVE yours of the zSth. I am ftill to acknow-
ledge and thank you for the care of my little affairs. I
hope I Ihall not vyant the filver ; for I hope to be in
town by the beginning of OSlobcr, unlefs extreme
good weather flT,all invite me to continue.
Since JVoodh patent is cancelled, it will by no
means be convenient to have the paper printed, as I
fuppofe you, and yiJck Grattan, and Sberridan will
agree j
[ 220 1
agree; therefore, if it be with the printer, I would
have it taken back, and the prefs broke, and let her
be fatisfied.
The work is done, and there is no more need of
the Drapier.
Mrs. John/on does not underftand what you mean by
her ftamped linen, and remembers nothing of it;
but fuppolfs it is fome jell.
The ladies are well ; all our fervices to Mrs. Worrall.
Mrs. Di'igley at laft difcovered the meaning of the
Jtamped linen, which makes that part of my letter
needlefs.
Pray pay 'Jo. Beaumont four pounds for a hprfe I
bought from hi;a, and place it to my account.
J. s.
When Jo. brings you a piece of linen of twenty-
four yards, pray put my name upon it, and pay
him fix pounds, eight faillings.
LETTER CCXX.
Dr. Akbuthnot to Dr. Swift.
DEAR S.IR, London, 0£'iob. 17, 1725.
1 HAVE the vanity to think, that a few fiendj
have a real concern for me, and are uneafy when I
am in diftrefs ; in confequence of which, I ought to
communicate with them the joy or my recovery. I
did not want a mod kind paragraph in your letter to
Mr, Pope, to convince me, that you are of the num-
ber;
C 2M 1
ber ; and I know, that I give you a fenfihie pkafure
in telling you, that 1 think myfelf at this time almoft
perteclly recovered of a mofl unufual and dangerous
diftemper, an impofthume in the bowels ; fuch a one,
that had it been in the hands of a chirurgeon , in aa
outward and flefhy part, 1 fliould not have been well
thefe three months. I "uke Difney, our old friend, is »
in a fair way to recover of fuch another. There have
been feveral of them occafioned, as I reckon, by the
cold and wet feafon. People have told me of new
iitipojlures (as they called them) every day. Poor
Sir Wihium Wyndbam is an hnpofiure : I hope the Batb^
where he is g<^ing, will do him good. The hopes of
feeing once more the Dean of St. Patrick's revives my
fpir.ts. I cannot help imagining fome of your old
club met together like mariners after a ftorm. For
God's fake do not tantalize your friends any more.
I can prove by twenty unanfwerable arguments, that
it is abfolutely neceffary, thac you fhould come over
to E?iglan(i\ that it would be comm'rdng the greateft
abfurdity that ever was, not to do it the next ap-
proaching winter. I believe, indeed, it is juftpolTibie
to fave your foul without it, and that is all. As for
your book * ( of which I have framed to myfelf fuch
an idea, that I am perfuaded, there is no doing any
any good upon mankind without it ) I will fet the let-
ters myfelf, rather than that it (hould not be publifhed.
But before you put the finilhing hand to it, it is really
necelTary to be licquaintcd with fome new improve-
ments of mankind, that have appeared. Mankind has an
* CuUiveri travels,
itiex-
r 222 1
inexhauflible fource of invention in the way of folly
and madnefs. I have only one fear, that when you
come over, you will be fo much coveted and taken
up by the miniftry j that, unlefs your friends meet
you at their tables, they will have none of your com-
pany. Tills is really no joke ; I am quite in earneft.
Your deafnefs is fu necefTary a thing, that I almoft
begin to think it an afFe<5lation, I remember you ufed
to reckon dinners. I know of near half a year's din-
ners, where you are already befpoke. It is worth
your while to come to fee your old friend Le^vis, who
is wifer than ever he was, the beft of hufbands. I am
fure I can fay from my own experience, that he is the
the beft of friends. He was fo to me, when he had
little hope I Ihould ever live to thank him.
Ycu muft acquaint me before you take journey,
that v/e may provide a convenient lodging for you
amongft your friends. I am called away this mo-
ment, and have only time to add, that I love and long
to fee you, and am moft fincerely, dear Sir, your
moft faithful humble fervant,
J. ARBUTHNOT.
LETTER CCXXr.
Dr. Swift to Mr. W o r r a l l .
Lcjidjn, Apiil 1 6, 172G.
J. HE ladies have told ycu all my adventures, and
I hear you are ruining me with dung. J have writ
feveral times to the ladies, and Ihall foon do fo again.
I fend
[ 223 ]
I fend you inclofed the bill of lading for a pidlure
that has lain long at fea ; you will be fo kind to get
it out of the cuftom-houfe. Mr Medlkot will make
it eafy, if there fhould be any difficulties. My humble
fervice to Mrs. WorralU and the ladies and all my
friends. I thank God I am in pretty good health.
I have now company with me ; I can fay no more.
I hope you are all well.
I got no voice at Oxford \ but am endeavouring for
one here.
LETTER CCXXir.
Dr. A R B u T H N 0 r to Dr. Swift *.
DEAR SIR, (Indorfed, 1726,)
1 HAVE been at your lodgings this morning, but
you was out early. Her royal highnefs begs the ho-
nour of a vifit from you on Thurfday night at {avtn
o'clock. You are to be attended by, dear Sir, your
moft faithful humble fervant,
JO. ARBUTHNOT.
I hope you will not engage yourfelf at that
hour J but I fliall fee you before that time,
Tuijday, 3 o'clock. *
* Then in London. The Dean went thither in the beginning
of j^pTil, i-jifi ; and this invitation was made by her royal high-
hefs, afterwards queen Caroline, fcon after j but is uncertain on
what day.
LET-
[ 224 ]
LETTER CCXXIII.
Dr. Swift to Mr. W o r r a l L.
Twickenham, July 15, 1^2,6.
A V/ISH you would fend me a common bill in form
upon any banker for one hundred pounds, and I will
wait for it, and in the mean time borrow where I can.
What you tell me of Mrs. John/otiy I have long ex-
pefled, with great oppreflion and heavinefs of heart-
We have been perfeft friends thefe thirty- live years.
Upon my advice they both came to Ireland and hav«
been ever fince my conllant companions ; and the re-
mainder of my life will be a very melancholy fcene,
when one of them is gone, whom I moft eftcemed,
upon the fcore of every good quality, that can poflibly
recommend a human creature. I have thefe two
months feen through Mrs. Dingleyh difguifes *. And,
indeed, ever fmce I left you, my heart had been fo
funk, that I have not been the fame man, nor ever
fhall be again ; but drag on a wretched life, till it fhall
pleafe God to call me away. I muft tell you, as a
friend, that if you have reafon to believe Mrs. 'Johnfin
cannot hold out till my return, I would not think of
coming to /r;//7»d^; and, in that cafe, I would expeft
of you, in the beginning of Sepfemher, to renew my
licence for another half year; which time I will fpend
in fome retirement far from London, till I can be in a
difpofition of appearing, after an accident, that mull
* Probably endeavouring to conceal Mrs. yohnfori't danger, in
'cnitrnefs to the Dean.
be
[ "5 1
be Co fatal to my quiet. I wifh it could be brought
about, that Ihe might make her will. Her intentions
are to leave the inter,e{l: of all her fortune to her mo-
ther and filler, during their lives, and afterwards to
Dr. Stephens's hofpital, to purchafe lands for fuch ufes
there , as flie defigns. Think hov/ 1 am difpofed
while I write this, and forgive the inconfiftencies. I
would not for the aniverfe be prefent at fuch a trial
of feeing her depart. She will be among friends,
that, upon her own account and great worth, will
tend her with all pofiible care, where I fho-ald be
a trouble to her, and the grcateil torment to myfelf.
In cafe the matter ftiould be defperate, I would have
you advife, if they come to town, that they fliculd
be lodged in fome airy healthy part, and not in the
deanry ; which bcfides, you know, cannot but be a
very improper thing for that houfe to breathe her lalt
in. This I leave to your difcretion, and I conjure
you to burn this letter immediately, without telling
the contents of it to any perfon alive. Pray write to
me every week, that I may know what fteps to take ;
for I am determined not to go to Ireland, to find her
juft dead, or dying. Nothing but extremity could
make me fo familiar with thofe terrible words, ap-
plied to fuch a dear friend. Let her know, I have
bought her a repeating gold watch, for her eafe in
winter nights. I defigned to have furprifed her with
it ; but now I would have her know it, that Ihe may
fee how my thoughts are always to make her eafy.
I am of opinion, that there is not a greater folly than
to contrdd too great and intimate a friendfhip, which
Vol. ir. CL muft
[ 226 ]
muft always leave the farvivor miferable. On thtf
back of Brereto;i% note there was written the account
of Mrs. John/onh ficknefs. Pray, in your next, avoid
that miftake , and leave the backfide blank. When
you have read this letter twice, and retain what I de-
iire, pray burn it ; and let all I have faid lie only in
your own breaft. Pray write every week. I have
( till 1 know further) fixed on Avgufi the fifteenth to
fet out for Ireland. I fhall continue or alter my mea-
fures acording to your letters. Adieu.
Pray tell Mr. Dobbs, of the college, that I received
his letter; but cannot poffibly anfwer it, which I
certainly would , if I had materials. As to what you
fay about promotion, you will find it was given im-
mediately to Maule , as I am told; and I zKm-e. you
I had no offers, nor would accept them. My beha-
viour to thofe in power hath been dire£lly contrary,
lince I came here. I had rather have good news
from you than Canterbury, though it were given mg
upon my own terms.
LETTER CCXXIV.
Lord BoLiNGBROKE to the Three Yahoos of
Timckenham, Jonathan, Alexander, John *i
MOST EXCELLENT TRIUMVIRS OF
PARN ASSUS,
1 HOUGH you are probably very indifferent where
I am, or what I am doing ; yet I refolve to believe the
* John Gay«
contrary.
[ 227 1
contrary. I perfuade myfelf , that you have Tent at
leaft fifteen times within this fortnight to f Daivley
farm, and that you are extremely mortified at my long
filence. To relieve you therefore from this great
anxiety of mind, I can do no lefs than write a few lines
to you ; and I plcafe myfelf beforehand with the vaft
pleafure, which this epiftle muft needs give you.
That I may add to this pleafure, and' give you farther
proofs of my benificent temper, I will likewife inforhi
you, that I fhall be in your neiglibourhood again by
the end of next week ; by which time I hope that
Jonathan^ imagination of bufincfs will be fucceeded
by fome imagination more becoming a profeffor of
that divine fcience , la hagatelle. Adieu, Jonathan^
Alexander , John ! mirth be with you.
From the banks of the Sc-veine , yu!y 23, lys^).
LETTER CCXXV.
Dr. S v/ I t T to Mr. W o r r a l t.
loridcn, Aug. 6, 17?,6.
At the time that I had your letter, with the bill,
{ for which 1 thank you ) I received auotiicr from Dr.
Sheridan, both full of the melancholy account of our
friend. The doftor advifes me to go over at the tlme^
I intended, which 1 now dclign to do, and to fet
out on Monday the fifteenth from hence. However,
if any accident fliould happen to me, that you do
f The country refidence of lord Bolingbroke, near Cranford
in Middli-fen,
Q^ • itot
[ Z28 ]
not find me come over on the firft of Sfpte?}iber, I
would have you renew my licence of abfence from
the feccnd of Seplember, which will be the day that
my half year will be out ; and fmce it is not likelv,
that you can anfwer this, fo as to reach me before I
leave Lcndon, I defire yoa will write to me, direfled
to Mrs. Kenah, in Chejlcr, where I defign to fet up,
and fhall hardly be there- in lefs than a fortnight from
this time ; and if I fhould then hear our friend was
no more, I might probably be abfcnt a month or two
in (ome parts of ZJ^T^i^/V^, or Wales. However, you
need not renew the licence till the firft of Septembey,
and, if I come not, I will write to you from ChcJIer.
This unhappy affair is the greateft trial I ever had ;
and I think you are unhappy in having converfed fo
much with that perfon under fuch circumllanqes.
Tell Dr. Sheridan, I had his letter ; but care not to
to anfwer it. I vvilh you would give your opinion,
at Che/ier, whether I fhall come over or no. I fhall
be there, God willing, on Thur/day, the eighteenth
inftant. This is enough to fay , in my prefent fitua-
tion. I am, l3c.
My humble fervice and thaiks to
Mrs. Tforrall, for the care of our
friendj which I fhall never for-
get.
LET-
[ 229 ]
LETTER CCXXVI.
Dr.' Swift to the Rev. Mr. Wo r r a l l.
Auguft- 15th, 1726.
i- HIS is Saturday, and on Monday I fet out for
Ireland. I defired you would fend me a letter to Cbe-
Jler. I fuppofe I Ihall be in Dublin with moderate
fortune in ten or eleven days hence ; for I will go by
HoUkead. I Ihall ftay two days at Chrjler, unlefs I
can contrive to have my box fent after me. I hope I
Ihall be with you by the end of Angttjl ; but however,
if I am not with you by the fecond of September,
which is the time that my licence is out, I defire you
will get me a new one ; for 1 would not lie at their
mercy , though I know it fignifies nothing. I expedl
to be very miferable when I come ; but I fliall be
prepared for it. I defued you would write to me
to Chejler, which I hope you will do ; and pray hinder
Dr. Sheridan from writing to me any niore.
This is all \ have to fay to you at prefent.
I am, l^c,
J. SWIFT.
LETTER CCXXVIL
William P u l t e n e y, Efq; to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, London, Sept. 3, 1726.
1 RECEIVED the favour of your kihd letter at my
lord Chet'iA^yn's ; and though you had fo much good-
Q^ 3 nefs.
[ -3^ 3
aefs , as to forbid my anfwGring it at that timej ye£
lihouldbe inexcufable, now I have perfeftly reco-
vered my health and ftrength , if! did not return
f'ou my very hearty thanks for your concern for me
during my illnefs. Though our acquaintance has
not been of long date, yet I think I may venture to
affure you, that even among your old friends, you
have not many, who have a juller regard for your
merit than I have. 1 could wifli, that thofe, who
are more aolt to ferve you th.m 1 am, had the fame
defire of doing it. And yet methinks, now I confi-
der it , and refletJil who they are, I fhould by forry
they had the merit of doing fo right a thing. As
well as I wifh you, I would rather not have you pro-
vided for yet, than provided for by thcfe that I don't
like. Mr. Pope tells me, tliat we fhall fee you in
fpring. When v.e meet again, I flatter myfelf we
fnall not part fo foon ; and I am in hopes you will
allow me a longer fhare of your company than you
did. All I can fay to engage you to come a little of-
tener to my houfe, is, to promife, that you Ihall nofc
have one diih of meat at my table fo difguifed, but
you fhall eaiiiy know what it is. You fhall have a
cup of your own for fmall beer and wine mixed toge-
ther ; you fhall have no women at table, if you don't
like them, and no men, but fuch as like you. I
wifhed mightily to be in London before you left it, ha-
ving fomething, which I would willingly have com-
municated you, that I do not think fo difcreet to truft
to a letter. Do not let your expectations by raifed,
•fis if it was a matter of any great confequence : it is
not
[ 231 ]
not that, though I ftiould be mighty glad you knew
it, and perhaps I may foon find a way of letting you
do fo.
Our parliament, they now fay, is not to meet till
after Chrijimas, the chief bufinefs of it being to give
money. It may be proper the miniilers fhoukl know,
a little before it meets, how much farther they have
run the nation in debt, that they inay prudently con-
ceal or provide what they think fit. I am told, that
many among us begin to grumble, that England 'i!c\.ovX^
be obliged to fupport the charge of a very expenfive
war, whilft all the other powers oi Europe are in peace.
But I will enter no farther into public matters, taking
it for granted, that a letter directed to you, and fran-
ked by me, cannot fail of raifing the curiofity of fome
of our vigilant miniflers, and that they will open it;
though we know it is not cuftomary for them fo to do.
Mrs. Pulteney is very much your humble fervant, and
I am, with great truth. Sir, your moft obedient
humble fervant,
W. PULTENEY.
LETTER CCXXVIJL
Mr. G A Y to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, LonJon, £cp^. i6, 1726.
OiNCE I wrote laft, I have been always upon the
ramble. I have been in Oxfordjhire with the duke
and duchefs of ^eenJJierry, and at Pcterjham, and
wherefoever they would carry me -, but as they will
Q^ 4 go
[ 232 3
g3 to Wiltpirc without me, on Tucfday next , for t'.vo
or three months, I believe I ihall then have finifhed
my travels for this year, and fhall not go farther from
London, than now and then to T-iJuickenham. 1 faw
Mr. Pope on Sunday, who hath lately efcaped a very
great danger ; but is very much wounded acrofs his
right-hand. Coming home in the dark, about a week
ago, alone in my lord Bdhigbroke^s coach from
_ Da-zv/ey, he was overturned, where a bridge has
been broken down, near Whitton, _abouf a mile
from his own houfe. He was thrown into the river,
v.'ith the glafTes of the coach up, and was up to the
knots of his perriwig in water. The footman broke
the glafs to draw him out ; by which, he thinks
he received the cut acrofs his hand. He was afraid
he Ihould have loft the ufe of his little finger, and the
next to it ; but the furgeon, whom he fent for laft
Sunday from London to examine it, told him, that his
fingers were fafe, that there were two nerves cut, but
no tendon. He was in very good health, and very
good fpirits, and the wound in a fair way of being
foon healed *. The inftruflions you fent me to com-
municate to the dofior about the finger, I tranfcribed
from your own letter, ^nd fent to him ; for, at that
time, he was going every other day to Wind/or Park
to vlilt Mr. Ccngre-je, who hath been extremely ill,
but is now recovered. I dined and fupped on MiJi-
day laft with lord and lady Bilinghroke, at lord Ler-
keJey's, at Craitford, and returned to London, with the
* See lord Bolingbroke% account of this accident, in his letter,
dated Sebumher 2 2, r 726,
duke
t 233 ]
duke anJ duciicfs of ^eenfoerry, on Twjclay by t\v«
o'clock in the morning. You are remembered always
with great refpefl by all your acquaintance, and every
one of them wifhes for your return. The lottery be-
gins to be drawn on Monday next, but my week of
attendance will be the lirft in OSiober. I am obliffed
to follow the engravers to make them difpatch my
plates for the fables ; for without it, I find they pro-
ceed but very flowly. I take your advice in this, as
I wifb to do in all things, and frequently revife my
work, in order to finifa it as well as I can. Mr. Pul-
tency takes the letter you fent him in the kindeft man-
ner ; and I believe he is, except a few excuriions,
fixed in town for the winter. As for the particular
aifair, that you want to be informed in, we areas yet
wholl'y in the dark; but Mr. Pope will follow your
inllrudlions. I have not fcen Mrs. Hovjard a great
while, which you know muf: be a great mortification
and felf-denial ; but in my cafe, it is particularly un-
happy, that a man cannot contrive to be in two places
at the fame time : if I could, v^hile you are there,
one of them fliould be always Dublin. But, after all,
it is a filly thing to be with a friend by halves, fo
that I will give up all thoughts of bringing this pro-
ject to perfedtion, if you will contrive, that we fhall
meet again foon. I am, dear Sir, your molt obliged
and affeftionaie friend, and fervan^
J. GAY.
L £ T-
t 234 3
LETTER CCXXIX-.
Dr. A R E u T H N o T to Dr. Swift.
London, Sept. zo, 1726.
i- HAVE been balancing, dear Sir, thefe three days,
whether I fhould write to you firft. Laying afide the
fuperiority of your dignity, I thought a notification
was due to me, as well as to two others of my friends :
then, I conildered, that this was done in the public
news, with all the formalities of reception of a lord
lieutenant. I refledled on the dependency o^ Ireland i
but, faidi, what if my friend Ihould difpute this?
Then I confidered, that letters were always intro-
duced at firft from the civilized to the barbarous king-
dom. In fhort, my aftedion, and the ple.-ifure of
correfponding with my dear friend, prevailed ; and,
fince you moft difdainfully, and barbaroufly confined
me to two lines a month, I was refolved to plague
you with twenty times that number, though I think it
was a fort of a compliment, to be fuppofed capable of
faying any thing in two lines. The Gafcoyne afked
only to fpeak one word to the French king, which the
king confining him to, he brought a paper, andfaid,
fgiieK,-, and not a word more. Your negotiation with
the fmging man is in the hands of my daughter Avz«9',
who, I can aflure you, will negledl nothing that con-
cerns you : fhe has wrote about it. Mr. Pope has
been in hazard of his life by drowning : coming late,
two weeks ago, from lord Bolingbroke'^ in his coach
and fix, a bridge on a little river being broke dovi^n,
3 they
the/ were obliged to go through the water, which
was not too high, but the coach was overturned in it j
and the glafs being up, which he could not break,
nor get down , he was very near drowned ; for, tlie
footman was ftuck in the mud, and could hardly come
in time to his affidance. He had that in common
with Horace, that is was occalioned by the trunk of a
tree ; but it was trunco rheda illap/a, mque Faiinus
idum dextra le--dabat ; for he was wounded in the left
hand, but, thank God, without any danger ; but by
the cutting of a large vefTel, loft a great deal of blood.
I have been with Mrs. Ho^jjard, who has a moft intole-
rable pain in one fide of her head. I had a great deal
of difcourfe v>'ith your friend, her royal highnefs.
Sbe infifted upon your wit, and good converfation.
I told her royal highnefs, that was not what I valued
you for, but for being a fincere, honeft man, and
fpeaking the truth, when others were afraid to fpeak
it. 1 have been for near three weeks together every
day at the duchefs oi Marlborough^ $, with Mr. Con-
grc-je, who has been like to die with a fever, and the
gotit in his ftomach; but he is now better, and like
to do well. My brother was like to be cart: away
going to Frr.-/2ce: there was a fliip lofcjufl; by him.
I write this in a dull humour, but with moft fincere
aft^ed\ion, to an ungrateful man as you arc, that minds
every body more than me, except what concerns my
intereft. My dear friend, farewel.
LET-
[ 236 3
LETTER CCXXX.
Lord EoLiNGBROKE to Dr. Swift.
London , Sept. 22, 1726.
A BOOKSELLER, who fays he is in a few days
going to Dublin, calls here, and ofters to carry a let-
ter to you. I can not refilt the temptation of writing
to you, though I have nothing to fay more by this
conveyance, than 1 il^.ould have by that of the poll: ;
though I have lately clubbed with Pope to make up a
moil elegant epiftle to you in profe and verfe ; and
though I wrote the other day the firft paragraph of
that Chedder * letter, which is preparing for you.
The only excufe then, which I can plead for writing
now, is, that the letters will cofl you nothing.
Have you heard of the accident which befel poor Pope
in going lately from me? A bridge was down, the
coach forced to go through the water, the bank fteep,
an hole on one fide, and a block of timber on the
other, the nighc as dark as pitch. In Ihort, he over-
turned, the fall was broke by the water ; but the
glalles were up. and he might have been drowned, if
one of my men had not broke a glafs, and pulled him
out through the window. Kis rij^ht-hand was fe-
* A Chedder letter, is a letter written by the contribu'ion of
feveral frieiids, each furnifliing a paragraph. The name is borrow-
ccl from 'hat of a large and excellent thcefe mT^Ao. zX Chedder \n
Somerfeipire, whee all" the d,jiries contribute to make the cheeA.',
■which is thus made of new milk, or frefli cream ; of which, one
dairy not fui f ifhing a fufRcicnt quantity, the common praiflice is
to piake cheefe of miU: or cieam that has been fet by, till a proper
oaant'.ty is procured, and then part of it at leaft is ftale.
vercly
r 257 I
verely cut ; but the furgeon thinks him in no danger
of lofing the ufe of his fingers : however, he has lately
had very great pains in that arm from the Ihoulder
downwards, which might create a fufpicion, that
fome of the glafs remains ftill in the flclh. St. Andre
fays, there is none. If fo, thefe pains are owing to a
cold he took in a fit of gallantry, which carried him
acrofs the water to fee Mrs. He-ward., who has been
extremely ill, but is much better. Juft as I am writ-
ing, 1 hear, that dodor Arbuthnot fays, that Pcpe^s
pains are rheumatic, and have no relation to his
wound. He fufFers very much ; I will endeavour to
fee him to-morrow. Let me hear from you as often
as you can afford to write. I v/ould fay fomething to
you of myfelf, if I had any good to fay; but I am
much in the fame way in which you left me, eter-
nally bufy about trifles, difagreeable in themfelves,
but rendered fupportable by thtir end ; which is,
to enable me to bury myfelf from the world (who
cannot be more tired of me than I am of it) in an
agreeable fepulchre. I hope to bring this about by
next fpring, and fhall be glad to fee you at my fu-
neral. Adieu.
LETTER CCXXXL
Mr. Gay to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, Whitehall, Oftoberaa, 172^.
JjEFORE I fay one word to you, give me leave to
fay fomething of the other gentleman's affair. The
4 letter
[ 238 J
letter was fent; and the anfwer was, that every thing
was finiflied and concluded according to orders, and
that it would be publicly known to be fo in a very
fev/ dr.ys ; fo that, J. think, there can be no occafiou
for his writing any more about this affair.
The letter you wrote to Mr. Pope, was not receive4
till eleven or twelve days after date ; and the pofl-
ofiice, we fuppofe, have very vigilant officers ; for
they had taken care to make him pay for a double
letter. 1 wifh, I could tell you, that the cutting of
the tendons of two of his fingers was a joke ; but it
is really fo : the wound is quite healed ; his hand is
ftill weak, and the two fingers drop downwards, as I
told you before * ; but, 1 hope, it v/ill be very little
troublefome or detrimental to him. In anfwer to our
letter of maps, pidures, and receipts, you call it a
tripartite letter. If you will examine it once again,
you will find fome lines of Mrs. Ho^ward, and fome
of Mr. Pulteneyy which you have not taken the leaft
notice of The receipt of the veal is of Monfieur
Da^aux, Mr. Pulteney's cook ; and it hath been ap-
proved of at one of our Twickenham entertainments.
The difficulty of the faucepan, I believe you will
find, is owing to a negligence in perufing the manu-
fcript; for, if I rem.ember right, it is there called a
ftew-pan. Your earthen veffcl, provided it is clofe
flopped, i allow to be a good-fuccedaneum. As to the
boiling chickens in a wooden bowl, I fliall be quite
* In the preceding letter he fayj, no tendon is cut : he muff
therefore refer to a letter not in this colledion, if his memory did
not fail him,
aihamed
C 239 1
afiiamed to confult Mrs. Hoiuard upon your accounfj
who thinks herfelf intirely neglefted by you, in not
writing to her, as you promifcd : however, let her
take it as flie will, to ferve a friend, I'll venture to
afk it of her. The prince and his family come to fet-
tle in town to-morrow. That Mr. Pulte-fiey expeCied
an an Aver to his letter, and would be extremely
pleafed to hear from you, is very certain; for I have
heard him talk of it with expeftation for above a
fortnight.
I have of late been very much out of order with a
flight fever, which I am not yet quite free from. It
was occafioned by a cold, which my attendance at the
Guiy-HaU improved. I have not a friend, who has
got any thing under my adminiilration, but the
duchcfs of ^eenjberry, who hath had a benefit of a
thoufand pounds. Your mentioning Mr. RolUnfon'^
fo kindly will, I know, give him much pleafure; for
he always talks of you with great regard, and the
Ilrongeft terms of friendflaip. He hath been of late
ill of a fever, but is recovered {o as to go abroad and
take the air.
If the engravers keep their word with me, I Ihall be
able to publifh my fables foon after Chrijimasi The doc-
tor's book j is intirely printed ofF, and will be very foon
publiflied. I believe you'll expe6l, that llliould give you
fome account how I have fpent my time fince you left
me. I have attended my diltrelTed friend at T-xmden~
* ' A great friend of lord BoUrgbrahe, Dr. Szuift, and Mr. Pojii.
He matrjed the widow of yo/jn earl of Winchdjca,*
\ ' ArbMtbnit\ tables of anticnt coins, ^c*
ham.
r 24c ]
hajn, and been his amanuenjis^ which you know is no
idle charge. I have read about half Virgil, and half
Spcncer^s Fairy-queen, I ftill defpife court preferments,
fo that I lofe no time upon attendance on great men j
and ftill can find amufement enough without qua-
drille, which here is the univerfal, employment of life.
I thought you would be glad to hear from me, fo
that I determined not to ftir out of my lodp-inp-s till I
had anfwered your letter: and, I think, I Ihall very
probably hear moj-e of the matter (which I mention
in the firft paragraph of this letter) as foon as I go
E.broad ; for I exped it every day. We have no news
as yet of Mr. Stopford: Mr. RoUin/on told me he Ihall
know of his arrival, and will fend me word. Lord
BoVmcbroke hath been to make a vifit to Sir William
o
Wyndhafti. 1 hear he is returned, but I have not feen
him. If 1 had been in a better ftate of health, and
Mrs. Ho-zvard* were not come to town to-morrow, I
would have gone to Mr. Pope\ to-day, to have dined
with him there on Monday.
You afk me how to addrefs to lord B — . when you
are difpofed to write to him. If you mean lord Bur-
lington, he is not yet returned from France, but is ex-
pected every day. If you mean lord Bathurjl, he is
in Gloucejierpire, and makes but a very fnort ftay; fo
that if you diredl to one of them in St. jfamesh-fquare,
or to the other at Burlington-houfc, in Piccadilly, your
letter will find them. 1 vvill make your compH.ments
to lord Chejlerfeld and Mr. Ptdtaiey ; and I beg you,
* Afterwards countefs of Ziiffalk, from whom diy at this t'me
had expi;£tations.
in
[ 24i ]
in return, to ma\e mine to Mr. Ford. Next week t
Ihall have a new coat, and new buttons, for the
birth-day, though I don't know, but a turn-coat
might have been more for my advantage. Yours
molt fincerely and affeftionately.
P. S. I hear that lord Bolhighroke will be in townj
at his houfe in Palhnall next week;
As we cannot enjoy any good things without your
partaking of it, accept of the following receipt for
ftewing veal *.
Take a knuckle of veal j
You may buy it, or ileal.
In a itw pieces cut it :
In a Ilewing-pan put it.
Salt, pepper, and mace
Muft feafon this knuckle j
Thenf what's join'd to a place.
With other herbs muckle;
That, which killed k'lngX mil:
And what never || ftands flill.
Some § fprigs of that bed
Where children are bred,
* This is fuppofeJ to be the receipt of Mr, PuUenef% cook^
mentioned in the preceding part of this letter, verfified,
\ Vulgo, falary.
\ Suppofcd forril.
II This is by Dr. Bentley thought to be time, or thyme.
§ Parfley. VidiCbamberlayne.
Vol. ir. R Whicl*
[ ^42 J
Which much you will mend, il
Both fpinnage and endive,
And lattice, and bee!/,.
With marygold meet.
Put no water at all j
For it maketh things fmall.
Which, left it Ihould happen*
A clofe cover clap on.
■put this pot of* Wood's mettle
In a hot boiling kettle.
And there let it be
(Mark the doclrine i teach)
About — let me fee,—
Thrice as long as you preach fi
So Ikimming the fat off.
Say grace with your hat off,
O, then ! with what rapture
Will it fill dean and chapter I
LETTER CCXXXII.
Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. S w i f T.
London, Nov. 8, 1726.
I TAKE it mighty kindly, that a man of your high
poft, dear Sir, was pleafed to write me fo long a let-
ter. I look upon the captain T'om of a great nation ta
be a much greater man than the governor of it.
* Copper.
•J- « Which we fuppofe to be near four hours,'
I am
f 243 ]
I am forry your commiffion about your finger has
not been executed fooner. It is not Nannf^ fault,
who has fpoke feveral times to Dr. Pepufch about it,
and wrote three or four letters, and received for an-
fwer, that he would write for the young fellow ; but
ftill, nothing is done. I will endeavour to get his
name and diredion, and write to him myfelf.
Your books fhall be fent as direfted : they have
been printed above a month ; but I cannot get my
fubfcribers names*. I will make over all my profits
to you for the property of GuUi--ue)'s travels ; which,
I believe, will have as great a run as John Bunyan.
Gtilli-vcr is a happy man, that, at his age, can write
fuch a merry book. *
I made my lord archbifhop's f compliments to her
royal highnefs, who returns his grace her thanks j at
the fame time, Mrs. Ho^vard read your letter to her-
felf. The princefs immediately Teized on your plaid X
for her own ufe, and has ordered the young princeffes
to be clad in the fame. When I had the honour to
fee her, fhe was reading Gulliver, and was juft come
to the paffage of the hobbling prince ; which fhe
laughed at. I tell you freely, the part of the pro-
jeftors is the leaft brilliant. Len.^:is |( grumbles a little
at it, and fays, he wants the key to it, and is daily
* ' To a woik, in 410, intltled, Tables of ancient Coins, We:gbtt,
and Mfafu- es, ex}.lained and exempiifed in [everal DiJ/ertatiom,''
f * Probably, archbifliop King of Dub!in.''
X The Dean fent a prefent of fome filk plaids from Ireland, for
rtic princefs of JVales, and the young princeffes,
II ' Erajmus Lewis, Efq;'
R 2 refining.
[ 244 ]
refining. I fuppofe he will be able to publifli like
Barne^elt * in time. I gave your fervice to lady Har"
<vej. She is in a little fort of a miff about a ballad,
that was wrote on her, to the tune of Mo/Iy Mog, and
fent to her, in the name of a begging poet. She was
bit, and wrote a letter to the begging poet, and de-
fired him to change two double entendres ; which the
authors, Mr. Pulteney and lord CheJIerfeld, changed
to /ingle entendres. I was againfl that, though I had
a hand in the firft. She is not difpleafed, I believe,
with the ballad, but only with being bit.
There has been a comical paper about quadrille f,
defcribing it in the terms of a lewd debauch among
four ladies, meeting four gallants, two of a ruddy,
and two of a fwarthy complexion, talking of their
a es, l^c. The riddle is carried on in pretty
ilrong terms : it was not found out a long time. The
ladies, imagining it to be a real thing, began to guefs
who were of the party. A great miniiler was for
hanging the author. In Ihort, it has made very good
fport.
Cay has had a little fever, but is pretty well reco-
vered : fo is Mr. Pope. We Ihall meet at lord BoUng-
hroke's on Thurfday, in town, at dinner, and remem-
ber you. Gulli'ver is in every body's hands. Lord
Scarborough, who is no inventor of ftories, told me,
• This refers to a pamphlet, iiitiiled, A Key to the Lock : Or, a
7reatlfe proftng beyond all Cor.tradiBion the dangerous Tendency of a
/cf^ P«/B, intitled, The Rape of the Lock, to Go'vernment and Reli-
gion. By Efdras Barne-veh, Apothecary. The fecond edition at
this piece was published 1 71 5, 8vo, ,
■J- Written by Mr, Con^rcve,
3 that
C 245 ]
that he fell in company with a mafter of a fhip, who
told him, that he was very well acquainted with G«/-
li-ve}- ; but that the printer had miftakei;, that he
lived in Wapping, and not at Rothirhithe. I lent the
book to an old gentleman, who went immediately to
his map to fearch for Lilliput.
We expedl war here. The city of London are all
crying out for it, that they fhall be undone without
it, there being now a total ftoppage of all trade. I
think one of the beft courfes will be, to rig out a pri-
vateer for the Weji hidies. Will you be concerned ?
We will build her at Bermudas, and get Mr. dean
Berkeley* t.' be our manager.
I had the honour to fee lord Oxford, who afked
kindly for you, and faid he would write to you. If
the prrjcdl goes on of printing fome papers, he has
pron\ired to give copies of fome things, which I be-
lieve cannot be found elfewhere. My brother Robert has.
been very ill of a rheumatifm. Wifhing you all health
and happlnefs, and not daring to write my paper on
the other fide, I muft remain, dear Sir, your moft
faithful humble fervant,
JO. ARBUTHNOT.
* He formed a defign of fixing an univerfity in the Bermudas,
See note on Bolirghrokis letter, dated Ju/y 24, 1725.
R 7 LET-
C -4^ I
LETTER CCXXXIII.
Mrs. Howard to Dr. S \v i f r.
Nov. 1726.
1 DID not expefl, that the fight of my ring would
produce the eftefts it has. I was in fuch a hurry to
fliew your plaid to the princefs, that I could not flay
to put it into the lliape you defired. It pleafed ex-
tremely, and I have orders to fit it up according to
■the lirft defign ; but as this is not proper for the pub-
lic, you are defired to fend over, for the fame prin-
cefs's ufe, the height of the ^ro^-//>/g-;z<2g- dwarf mul-
tiplied by z^. The young princeffes muft be taken
care of; theirs mull be in three fliares : for a (hort
method, you may draw a line of 20 feet, and upon
that, by two circles, form an equilateral triangle;
then meafuring each fide, you will find the proper
quantity and proper divifion. Jf you want a more
particular or better rule, I refer you to the academy
qi Legado*. I am of opinion many of this kingdom
will foon appear in your plaid. To this end it will
be highly necelTary, that care be taken of difpofing of
the purple, the yellow and white filks ; and though
the greens are for the princeffes, the officers are very
vigilant; fo take care they are not feized. Don't
forget to be obfervant how you difpofe of the colours.
I Ihall take all particular precautions to have the mo-
ney ready, and to return it the way you judge fafeft.
* See G«///f«>'s travels,
I think
[ 247 ]
I think it would be worth your refledlng in what
manner the chequer might be beft managed.
The princefs will take care, that you fhall have
pumps fufficient to ferve you till you return to Eng"
land', but thinks you cannot, in common decency,
appear in heels *, and therefore advifes your keeping
clofe till they arrive. Here are feveral Lilliputian ma-
thematicians, fo that the length of your head, or of
your foot, is a fufficient meafure. Send it by the firft
opportunity. Don't forget our good friends the ;co
weavers. You may omit the gold thread. Many
difputes have arifen here, whether the JBig-Enc/ia?is
and LcJJer-Endia7is ever differed in opinion about the
breaking of eggs, when they were to be either but-
tered or poached ? Or whether this part of cookery
was ever known in Lilliput ? I car not conclude with-
out telling you, that our ifland is in great joy ; one of
our yahoos have been delivered of a creature, half
ram and half yahoo ; and another has brought forth
four perfecl black f rabbits. May we not hope, and,
with fome probability, cxpeft, that, in time, our
female yahoos will produce a race of Houyhtihnms ? I
am. Sir, your humble fervant,
SIEVE YAHOOt.
* See GuUivert travel?, where high and low heels are made the
■diftindlion of political parties.
•f- This alludes to a famous impoftor, Mary Tcfti, of Godalm'in,
in Surry, called ihc rabbitwoman, who, in AW. 1756, pretended
to be delivered of living rabbits, and impofed, among others, upon
D. St. j^ndre'e, a phyfician, who was her advocate, I think, in print.
X Sie-ue Taboo is a name given hy Siv if r, in his Guiliters travels,
te a court lad/,
R 4 LET-
£ 243 ]
LETTER CCXXXIV.
The Earl of Peterborovv to Dr. Swift.
SIR, Npvemb. 29, 1726.
1 WAS endeavouring to give an anfwer to yours in ^
new dialeft, which mofl: of us are very fond of. I de-
pended much upon a lady, who had a good ear, and a
pliant tongue, in hopes fhe might have taught me to
draw founds out of confonants. But Ihe, being a pro-
feifed friend to the Italian fpeech and vowels, would
give me no affiftance, and fo 1 am forced to write to -
you in the Tahoo lar.guage.
The new one in fafhion is much ftudied, and great
pains taken about the pronunciation. Every body
(fince a new turn) approves of it ; but the women
feem mofl fatisfied, who declare for few words and
horfe- performance. It fu.; ces to let you know, that
there is a neighing duetto appointed for the next
opera.
Strange diftempers rage in the nation, which your
friend the * doftor takes no care of. In fome, the
imagination is ftruck with the apprehenfion of {wq\-
ling to a giant, or dwindling to a pigmy. Others
expeft ah oration equal to any of Cicero's from an
eloquent barb, and fome take the braying of an afs
for the eniperor's fpeech in favour of the Vienna al-
liance. The knowledge of the ancient world is of
no ufe; men have loft their titles ; continents and
iflands have got new names, juft upon the appearance
* Probably Jrbuthmt.
of
[ 249 ]
of a certain book*. Women bring forth rabbits f ;
and every man, whofe wife has conceived, expefts an
heir with four legs. It was concluded not long ago,
that fuch confufion could be only brought about by
the black art, and by the fpells of a notorious fcrib-
bling I magician, who was generally fufoefted, and
was to be rtcommended to the mercy of the inquifi-
tion. Indiflments were upon the anvil, a charge of
forcery preparing, and M'r//«'s friends were afraid,
that the exafperated pettifoggers would perfuade the
jury to bring in ^7/« fera. For they pretended to
bring in certain proofs of his appearance in fevcral
ihapes, at one time a drapier || ; at another a IFapping
furgeon §, fometijnes a nardac, fometimes a reverend
divine. Nay more, that he could raife the dead ;
that he had brought philofophers, heroes, and poets
in the fame caravan from the other world ; and, after
a few quellions, had fent them all to play at quadrille
in a flying ifland of his own.
This wg,i the fcene not many days ago, and burn-
ing was too good for the wizard. But what muta-
tions amongft the LilUpulations! The greateil lady in '
the nation refolves to fend a pair of fhoes without
heels to captain GuUi'ver : Ihe takes w> et armis the
plaid from the lady it was fent to, which is foon to
appear upon her royal perfon ; and now, who but
• GuHh'tr't travels,
f * Mary Tofis pretended to do this ; but being brought up to
town, ana well waiched, the irrpofture was detedled.'
X The Dean.
II In the drapier's letters againft Wood's halfpence.
^ Lemud GuUt-uir.
captain
{ 250 J
captain Gulliver ? The captain Indeed has nothing
inore to do but to chalk his pumps, learn to dance
upon the rope, and I rtiay yet live to fee him a
bifhop. Verily, verily, I believe he never was in
fiich imminent danger of preferment. Sir, your
affeftionate tar.
LETTER CCXX}^V.
Earl of Peterborow to Dr. Swift.
SIR,
One of your /r//?' heroes, that, from the extremis
ty of our Ejiglijh land, came to deftroy the wicked
ferazea projeft *, defires to meet you on Monday next
at Parfori's-Gretn. If you are not engaged, I will
fend my coach for you.
Sir Robert Walpole, any morning, except Tmjday and
Thur/day (^which are his public days ) about nine
o'clock, will be glad to fee you at his London houfe.
On Monday, if I fee you, I will give you a fuller
account. Your afredlionate fervant,
PETERBOROW.
Saturday evening.
* IFooJ's halfpence.
LET-
LETTER CCXXXVI, .
Lady Bolingeroke f to Dr. S w i f t« •
de Dawleo ce premier Fpvrier i^a|o9,
KjN m'a dit, monlleur, que vous vous plaignes dt
n'avoir point re9u de mes lettres. Vous avez tort J
je vous traite comme les divinites, qui tiennent COnte
aux hommes de leurs intentions. II y a dix ana, que
j*ai celle de vous ecrire ; avant que d'avoir I'lionnear
de vous connoitre, I'idee, que je me faifois de votre
gravite, me retenoit : depuis que j'ay eu^celui de
voir votre reverence, je ne me fuis pas trouvee afTes
d'imagination pour I'hazarder. Un certain monfieur
</(? Gtilli-jer avoit un peu remis en mouvement cett©
pauvre imagination fi eteinte par I'air de Londres, Si.
par des converfations dont je n'entend que le bruit,
je voulu me faifir de ce moment pour vous ecrire, maii
je tomboit malade, & je I'ai todjours ete depuii trois
roois. Je profile done, monfieur, de premier retour
de ma fante de vous remercier de vos reproches, dont
je fuis tres flattee, & pour vous dire un mot de mon
ami monfieur Gulll-ver. J'aprend avec une grande
fatiifadlion, qu'il vient d'etre traduit en Fi^angoit,
& comme mon fejour en Angkterre a beaucoup re-
double mon amitie pour mon pays k- pour mcs com-
■{■ * SeconJ wife of lord vifcount Eolirgbrakc, born in Frgnct,
She had been fecond wife of the marquis de FiUette, chef cl'cfcadre>
nephew or coufin to madame de Maiutenon. See Voltaire Siecit He
Lewis XIV. torn. II. She aicA March i8, 1749. Lord Btlix^'
broke furvived her, dying December 15, 175 1, aged 7S.'
patriotcs,
C 2;^ 1
patrlotes, je fuis ravis qu'ils puifient participer au
plaifir, que m'a fait ce bon monfieur, & profiter dc
fes decouvertes. Je ne defefpere pas que 12 vaifTeaux
que la France vient d'armer ne puiflent etre deftine a
une ambafTade ches meffiurs les Houhnhn?ns. En ce
cas je vous propoferai, que nous faffions ce voyage.
En attendant je fiiis bon gre a un ouvrier de votre
nation, qui pour inllruire les dames, lefquelles comme
vous fcavies, monfieur, (font ici un grand ufage) de
leurs eventails, en a fait faire ou toutes les avan-
tures de notre veridique voyageur font depeintes.
Vous jugez bien quelle part il va avoir daps leurs con-
verfation. Cela fera a la yerite beaucoup de tort a la
pluye & au beau terns, qui en remplifoient une partie,
& en mon particuller je ferai privee des very cold &
very warm, qui font les peu mots que j'entende. Je
conte de vous envoyer des ces eventails par un de vos
amis. Vous vous en ferez un merite avec les dames
^Irelande, fi tant efl; que vous en ayes befoin ; ce que
je ne croi pas, du moins fi elles penfent comme les
Frnnpifes. Le Seigneur de DavAey, Mr. PcpCt &
moi fommes ici occupes a boire, manger, dormir, ou
jie ainfaire priarit Dieu qu'a rien, ii foit de vous.
Revenes ce printems nous revoir, monlieur, attend
votre retour avec impatience pour tuer le boeuf le
plus pefant, & le cochon le plus gros, qui foit dans
ma ferme : I'un & I'autre feront fervis en entier fur la
table de votre reverence, craint qu'elle n'aucun mon
cufmier deguifcment. Vous brillieres parmi nous du
moins autant que parmi vos Chanoins, & nous ne
Icrons pas moins emprefic a vous plaire. Je le difpu-
terai
C ^53 ]
terai a tout autre,etant plus que perfonne du mondo
votre tres humble and tres obeifTaate fervante.
LETTER CCXXXVn.
Lord BoLiNGBROKE to Dr. Swift.
Feb, 17, 1726-7.
JL HIS opportunity of writing to you I cannot ne-
gledl, though I would have lefs to fay to you than I
fhould have by another conveyance, Mr. Stopford
being fully informed of all that pafles in this boifter-
ous climate of ours, and carrying with him a cargo
of our weekly productions. You will find anger on
one fide, and rage on the other ; fatire on one fide,
and defamation on the other. Ah ! ou ejl Grillsn ?
You fuffer much where you are, 433 you tell me, in an
old letter of yours, which I have before me ; but you
fuffer with the hopes of paffing next fummer between
Danjoley and Tnuickenham; and thefe hopes, you flatter
us, are enough to fupport your fpirits. Remember
this folemn renewal of your engagements. Remem-
ber, that though you are a dean, you are not great
enough to defpife the reproach of breaking your word.
Your deafnefs muit not be a hackney excufe to you,
as it was to Oxford, What matter, if you are deaf?
what matter, if you cannot hear what we fay ? You
are not dumb, and we fliall hear you, and that's
enough. My wife writes to you herfelf, and fends
you fome fans juft arrived from Lilliput, which you
will difpofe of to the prefent Stslia, tvhoever fhe be.
Adieu,
[ 254 J
Adieu, dear friend ; I cannot in confcience keep you
any longer froni enjoying Mr. Stopford's converfation.
I am hurrying myfelf here, that I may get a day or
two for Da%v!cy, where I hope, that you will find me
eflablifhed at your return. There I hope to finifh my
days in eafe, 'without fioth ; and believe I fliall fel-
dom vifit Londoti, unlefs it be to divert myfelf now and
then with annoying fools and knaves for a month or
two. Once more adieu ; no man loves you better
than your faithful.
LETTER CCXXXVIII.
Mr. Gay to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, Whitehall, Feb. 18, 1726-7.
1 BELIEVE it Is |K)w my turn to write to you,
though Mr. Pope hath taken all I have to fay, and put
it into a long letter, which is fent too by Mr. Siop^
ford: but however, I could not omit this occafion for
thanking you for his acquaintance. I don't know
whether I ought to thank you or not, confidering I
have loft him fo foon, though he hath given me fome
hopes of feeing him in the fummer. He will give you
an account of our negotiations together ; and I may
now glory in my fuccefs, fince I could contribute to
his. We dined together to-day at the doftor's, who,
with ine, was in high delight upon an information
Mr. Stcpford ^ve us, that we are like to fee you foon.
My fables are printed ; but I cannot get my plates
finiihed, which' hinders the publication. I expeft
nothing,
C 255 3
ROthing, and am like to get nothing. It Is needlefs
to write, for Mr. Stopford can acquaint you of my
affairs more fully than I can in a letter, Mrs. How-'
aid defires me to make her compliments ; fhe hath
been in an ill Itate of health all this winter, but I
hope is fome what better. I have been very much
out of order myfelf for the moft part of the winter :
upon my being let blood lafl week, my cough and
my head-ach are much better. Mrs. Bkunt always
afks after you. I refufed fupping at Burlington houfe,
in regard to my health j and this morning I walked
two hours in the park. The contempt of the werld
grows upon me, and I now begin to be richer and
richer ; for I find I could, every morning I awake,
be content with lefs than I aimed at the day before,
I fanfy, in time, I fhall bring myfelf into that flate,
which no man ever knev/ before me. In thinking I
have enough, I really am afraid to he content with
fo little, left my good friends fliould cenfure me for
indolence, and the want of a laudable ambition, Sa
that it will be abfolutely necefTary for me to improv©
my fortune to content them. How folicitous is man-
kind to pleafe others ? Pray give m.y fincere fervice tQ
Mr. Ford, Dear Sir, yours moil affeiSlionately,
J, G A Y.
LET-
[ 2s6 J
LETTER CCXXXIX.
Lord B0LINGBROK.E to Dr. Swift.
May 18, T727.
I LIVED on fuefday with you and Pope. Yefterday
another of my friends found his way to this retreat *,
and I {hall pafs this day alone. Would to God my
whole life could be devided in the fame manner;
two thirds to friendftiip, one third to myfelf, and not
a moment of it to the world.
In the epiftle, a part of which you fhewed me,
mention is made bf the author of three Occafional Let-
ters t> a perfon intirely unknown. I would have you
infinuate there, that the only reafon Walpole can have
had to afcribe them to a particular perfon, is I had the
authority of one of his fpies, who wriggles himfelf into
the company of thofe, who neither love, efteem, nor
feai- the minifter, that he may report, not what he
hears ( fince no man fpeaks with any freedom be-
fore him ) but what he gueffes.
I was interrupted yefterday when I leaft expefted
it ; and I am going to-day to London, where I hear
that my wife is not very well. Let me know how
Mrs. Pope does.
I had a hint or two more for you ; but they have
flipped out of my memory. Do not forget the fixty
nor the twenty guineas, nor the min— charafter
• « Daichyr
f Printed in his lorifliip's works, They were firft publifliei
tranf'
( ^^11 ]
transferred into the admini/lratlon. Adieu, I am
very faithfully yours, my dear and reverend Dean.
I embrace Pope.
Fi'iday morning.
LETTER CCXL.
Lord BoLiNGBROKE to Dr. Swift.
Saturday, at Pope's, June 24, 1727,
-I- AM going to London, and intend to carry this letter,
which I will give you, if I fee you, and leave for you,
if I do not fee you.
There would not be common fenfe in your going
into France at this juncture, even if you intended to
ftay there long enough to draw the fole pleafure and
profit, which I propofe you fhould have in the ac-
quaintance I am ready to give you there. Much lefs
ought you to think of fuch an unmeaning journey, when
the opportunity for quitting Ireland {ox England is, I
bel'eve, fairly before you.*. To hanker after a court is
fit for men with blue ribbands, pompous titles, and over-
grown eftates. It is below either you or me; one of whom
never made his fortune, and the other's turned rotten
at the very moment it grew ripe. But, without han-
kering, without affuming a fupplinnt dependent's air,
you may fpend in England all the time you can be ab-
fent from Ireland, ^ fairc la guerre a Poeil. There
has not been fo much inaftivity as you imagine j but
I cannot anfwer for contingencies. Adieu. '
* See a letter from Dr. Swift to Dr, Shsiidan, dated 24 yurte,
.1727. vol. xii. p. 213. edit. 8vp, 1755.
Vo h. U, S If
[ 253 ]'
Ifyou can call on me to-morrow raorning, in your
way to church, about ten o'clock, you will Rnd me
juft returning to Cranford from the Pall-ifiall.
I fhall return again to London on Monday even^lng.
LETTER CCXLI.
Lord BoLiNGBROKE to Dr. Swift.
Ci-anfotd, Tuefday.
1 HAVE fo fevere a defluxion of rheum on both my
eyes, that I dare hardly ftir abroad. You will be
ready to fay, Phyfician, cure thyfelf ; and that Is
what I am about. I took away, by cupping, yeller-
day fourteen ounces of blood ; and fuch an operation
would, I believe, have done you more good than
fteel, bitters, v/aters and drops. I wifli John Gay
fuccefs in his purfuit; but I think he has fome quali-
ties, which will keep him down in the world. Good
God ! what is man? polifhed, civilized, learned man!
A liberal education fits him for flavery ; and the pains
he has taken gives him the noble pretenfion of dang-
ling away life in an ante-chamber, or of employing
real talents to ferve thofe, who have none ; or,
which is worfe than all the reft, of making his reafon
and his knowledge ferve all the purpofes of other
mens follies and vices. You fay not a word to me about
the public, of whom I think as fcldom as poflible. I
confider myfelf as a man with fome little fatisfadtion,
and with fome ufe ; but I have no pleafure in think-
ing I am an Englijhman\ nor is it, I doubt, to much
purpofc
C ^59 J
purpofe to aft like one. Serpit enim res, qu^ procli-vis
ad ferniciem, cum femel 'aspit, labiiur. P lures enivt
difcunt quemadmodum hacfiantt qvam qusmadmodum his
rejtftatur. Adieu.
Let me know how you do. If your landlord * is
returned, my kindeft fervices to him.
LETTER CCXLIL
Lcrd B 0 L I N G E R. o K E to Dr. Swift.
Sunday. Indarfed '« On going to France, about June 1727."
You may be fure of letters from me to people, who
will receive you with all the honours due to fo great a
traveller; and fo exad an author. I am obliged to
ftay in the country to-morrowj by fome bufinefs re-
lating to my poor farm, which I would willingly
make a rich one ; and for which purpofe a perfon is
with me, who comes from Suffolk on my fummons.
On Tue/day, by fevcn in the evening, I will cer-
tainly be in thq Pall mall, and there you Ihall have,
if you meet me, and not otherwife, both my letters
and inftrudions, which will be of ufe to you.
Raillery apart ; fince you do go into France, I fliall
be glad to talk with you before your departure } and
I fanfy you would not leave England without embracing
the man in England, who loves you bell. Adieu.
My bcft fervices attend all with you.
* Mr, Fife, the Dean being at Tiokhinbam.
S 2 L E Ti
t z6o j
LETTER CCXLIII.
Lord BoLiNGBROKE to Dr. S w i f t.
Tuefday,
1 RETURN you the papers, which I have read
twice over fince you was here. They are extremely
well ; but the Craft/man has not only advertifed the
the public, that he intended to turn news-writer, he
has begun, and for fome weeks continued to appear
under that new charafter. This confideratlon inclines
me to think, that another turn might be given to the
introduftion ; and perhaps this would naturally call
for a fourth letter from the Occajional Writer, to ac-
count for his filence, to profecute your argument, to
ilate the prefent difputes about political affairs ; and,
in Ihort, to revive and animate the paper war. When
we meet next, I will explain myfelf better than I can
do by a letter writ In hafle, with mowers and hay-
makers about me. Adieu. Let Pope fhare my em-
braces with you.
LETTER CCXLIV.
Lord BoLiNGEROKE to Dr. Swift.
Thurfday.
J-/ORD B. is fo ill, and fo much alone, the common
fate of thofe who are out of power, that 1 have not
left him one day fmce my return from London. Let
me know how you are. Say fomething very kind
from
[ 26i ]
from me to Pope. Tofs John Gay cv^r the water tO
Richmond, if he is with you. Adieu.
LETTER CCXLV.
Mr. P u L T E N E Y to Mr. Pope,
1 AM obliged to you all for your compliment, and,
when the Dean is well enough, I hope to fee you in
town. You will probably find me a much happier
man than when you faw me lafl ; for I flatter myfelf,
that in an hour or two I Ihall be once more blefled with
a fon. Mrs. Tulteney is now in labour ; if Ihe does
well, and brings me a boy, I fhall not care one fix-
pence how much longer Sir Robert governs England^
ox Horace goyQTD.% France. I am ever yours> W. P.
Ileven o'clock, Tuejday morning.
LETTER CCXLVL
IVIrs. PI ow A R D * to Dr. Swift.
Aug. 1727.
1 WRITE to you to pleafe myfelf. I hear you are
melancholy becaufe you have a bad head, and deaf
* This lady, who was fiftcr to Jdbti, late carl of Bucklngbam-
Jk'ire, went, in the prime of her youth, to the court of /fancy"/-,
with her hufband, the hon. Charles Ha^uard, and hecame of the
bedcharnber to the eledloral princefs, afterwards princefs of TJales,
and tljen queea Caroline. Upon the death of queen Anne, (he came
over with her miftrefs, and was reckoricd the greateft: favcuiite at
^cicejlcr kouje. Some time after the accefiion of George II. her
S 3 huf»
[ 262 ]
«ars. Thefe are two misfortunes I have laboured un-
der thefe many years, and yet was never peevifh with
myfelf or the world. Have I more philofophy and
refolution than you ? Or am I fo ftupid I don't feel the
evil? Is this meant in a good-natured view? Or do
I mean, that I pleafe myfelf, when I infult over you ?
Anfvver thefe <]^ueries in writing, if poifon or other
methods don't enable you foon to appear in perfon.
Though I make ufe of your own word poifon, give
me leave to tell you, it is nonfenfe; and I defire you
will take more care, for the time to come, how you
endeavour to impofe upon my underftanding, by mak-
ing no ufe of your own= lam, &c.
LETTER CCXLVII.
Mrs. Howard to Dr. S w i f t.
Sept. 1727.
1 DID defire you to write ms a love letter; but I
jiever did defire you to talk of marrying me. I had
rather you and I were dumb, as well as deaf, for ever,
than that fhould happen. I would take your giddi-
nefs, your head-ach, or any other complaint you
hufband became carl of Si^ffolk, by the death of his cMer brother,
Edward, earl of Suffolk ; and in a fev.' years /he retired from court.
She furvived her fiift hufljjnd (by whom <he had one fon Henry, who
fucceeded his father, and died without ifTue) and being countefs
dows-^er of Suffolk, married the hon. Mr. George Berkeley, brother
to hdy Betty Germain, in tlie year 1735. See lady B, G.'s letter,
3.ited >/y iz, 1735.
,?. have
{ 263 1
have, to refem'ble you in one circumftance of life. So
that 1 infift upon your thinking yourfelf a very happy-
man, at leaft whenever you make a comparifon be-
tween yourfelf and me. I likevvife infiil upon your
taking no refolution to leave England till I fee you;
which muft be here, for the moll difagreeable reafon
in the world, and the moll Ihocking: I dare not go to
you. Believe nobody, that talks to you of the queen,
without you are fure the perfon likes both the queen
and you. I have been a flave twenty years, without
£ver receiving a reafon for any one thing I ever was
obliged to do ; and I have now a mind to take the
pleafure, once in my life, of abfolute power; which
I expeft you to give me, in obeying all my orders,
without one queftion why I have given them.
LETTER CCXLVm.
Chevalier Ramsay* to Dr. S w i F T.
REV. SIR, Paris, Aug. i, 1727. N. S,
jVI R. Hooke having acquainted me with what good-
nefs and patience you have been pleafed to examine a
« < Andrciv Michael Ramfay, kntght of St. Lazarus in France,
and dodor of laws of the univerfity of Oxford. He was born in
Scotland oth of June, 1686, and educated a Proteflant, but con-
veited tj the church oi Rome \.n ijo^, by F^w/aw, archbifiiop of
Cambray, whofe life he publi/hcd. 1111724, he was fent for to
Romt by the Pretender, in order to be tutor to his two fons ; but
the divifions and jealouficr. of that court induced him to dcfire
leave to rtturn to France, where he was appointed governor of the
duke of Chateau-TLiory, and afterwards of the prince of Turcnne,
He died 6 May, 1743, at St. Gemiain-en-hk, at the age of fifty-
S 4 feven.
[ 264 ]
performance of mine *, I take this occafion to make
my acknowledgements. Nothing could flatter me
more fenfibly than your approbation. To acquire the
efleem of perfons of your merit is the principal ad-
vantage I could wifh for by becoming an author, and
more than I could flatter myfelf with. I fliould be
proud of receiving your commands, if I could beany
way ufeful to you in this part of the world, where, I
aflure you, your reputation is as well eftabliflied as in
)»our own country. I am with the v.tmoft regard and
efteem, reverend Sir, your mofl humble, and moft
obliged, obedient fervant,
A. RAMSAY.
LETTER CCXLIX.
Dr. Swift to Mr. \V o r r a L l.
London, Sept. 12, 1727,
1 HAVE not wrote to you this long time, nor would
I now, if it were not neceffary. By Dr. Sheridan'^
frequent letters, I am every poft expeding the death
of a friend, with whofe lofs I fhall have very little re-
gard for the few years, that nature may leave me. I
defue to know where my two friends lodge. I gave a
caution to Mrs. Brent, that it might not be in demo
decani, quoniam hoc minime decei, uti inaniftjlurn ejl :
habeo etiim malignos, qui Jinijir'e hoc interpretabwHiir, Ji
feyen. He is well known for his rra-veh of Cyrus, hii LiFe of
MarfyalTurmne, Sec.'
* The travels of Cyrus,
fieiiia:^
[ 265 ]
eveniat (qicoJ. Deus avertat) ut illic moriatur. I am la
fuch a condition of health, that I cannot polTibly tra-
vel. Br. Sheridan, to whom I wrote this laft poll,
will be more particular, and fpare my weak difor-
dcred head. Pray, anfwer all calls of money in your
power to Mrs. Dinghy, and deCre her to afk it. I
cannot come back at the time of my licence, I am
afraid. Therefore the fecond or third day before it
expires, which will be the beginning of October, (you
will find by the date of the laft) take out a new one
for another half year; and let the fame claufe be in (of
leave to go to Great-Britain, or elfewhere, for the re-
covery of his health) for very probably, if this unfor-
tunate event fhould happen of the lofs of our friend
(and I have no probability or hopes to expeft better)
I will go to Fra?!ce, if my health will permit me to
forget myfelf*. I leave my whole little affairs with
you; I hate to think of them. If Mr. Deacon, or
alderman Pear/on, come to pay rent, take it on ac-
count, unlefs they bring you their laft acquittance to
direft you. ^\xt Deacon owes me feventy-five pounds,
and intereft, upon his bond ; fo that you are to take
care, of giving him any receipt in full of all accounts.
I hope you and Mrs. Worrall have your health. I can
hold up my head no longer. I am fincerely yours.
You need not trouble yourfelf to write, till you
have bufinefs ; for it is uncertain where I fhall be.
* Soon after the date of this letter the Dean went to hd.md ;
and Mrs. Johnson, after languifiiing about two months, died on
the 28th tii January, 1727, i;i the 44th yejjofher age.
LET-
C ^66 J
LETTER CCL.
Dr. Swift to Mrs. Howard.
MA DAM, Sept. 1727,
1 HIS cruel diforderof de^fncfs, attended with gid-
dinefs, Hill confines me. I have been debating with
jnyfelf, that having a home in Dublin not inconve-
nient, it would be prudent for me to return thither,
while my ficknefs will allow me to travel. I am
therefore fetting out for Ireland; and it is one com-
fort to me, that I am ridding you of a troublefome
companion.
I am infinitely obliged to you for all your civili-
ties, and fhall retain the remembrance of them dur-
ing my life. I hope you will favour me fo far, as to
prefent my moil: humble duty to the queen, and to
defcribe to her majefty my forrow, that my diforder
was of fiich a nature, as to males me incapable of at-
tending her, as fhe was plcafed to permit me. J fhall
pais the remainder of my life with the utmoll grati-
tude for her majefty's favours*. I am, &c.
sre
* His opinion of ihis lady, and fenfe of her majclj's ^ZMOWp^
__e eirprefi'ed very difterently in other p'aces: it is therefore to be
prefumed, they were changed by fome events fubfcquent to this
letter, though I ih'nk he was never afterwards in England. See
yerfes on Iiis own death, and the letters of Udy B, G, in this yol-
leflion, Nov. 7, and Teh. 1773,
LET-
[ 267 3
LETTER CCLT.
Dr. Areuthnof to Dr. Swift.
London, Nov. 30, 1727,
1 HAVE heard, dear Sir, with great pleafure, of
your fafe arrival ; and, which is more, of the reco-
very of your health. I think it will be the beft ex-
pedient for me to take a journey. You will know
who the inclofed comes from ; and, I hope, will va-
lue mine for what it contains. I think every one of
your friends have heard from you, except myfelf.
Either you have not done me juftice, or they have
not done you ; for I have not heard from them of my
name being mentioned in any of your letters. If my
curiofity wanted only to be gratified, I don't ftand in.
need of a letter from yourfelf, to inform me what you
are doing ; for there are people about court, who can
tell me every thing, that you do or fay ; fo that you
had beft take care of your condud. You fee of what
importance you are. However, all quarrels afide, I
mull afk you, if you have any intereft ? Or, do you
think, that I could have, or procure any with my
lord lieutenant, to advance a relation of mine, one
captain Innes, I think in colonel Wilfoii'j regiment,
and now in Limerick ? He is an exceeding worthy
* man, but has ftuck long in a low poll, for want of
friends. Pray tell me which way I Ihall proceed in
this matter.
I was yefterday with all your friends at St. James't,
There is certainly a fatality upon poor Gay, As for
' hope
[ 268 ]
hope of preferment there by favour, he has laid itafide.
He has made a pretty good bargain (that is, a S?fi!th~
field one) for a little place in the cuftom-houfe, which
was to bring him in about an hundred a year. It was
done as a favour to an old man, and not at all to G«y.
"When every thing was concluded, the man repented,
and faid, he would not part with his place. I have
begged Gay not to buy an annuity upon my life ; I
am fure I fhould not live a week. I long to hear of
the fafc arrival of Dr. Ddany. Pray, give my humble
fervice to him.
As for news, it was wrote from Spa'ut, to me, from
jny brother in France, that the preliminaries were ra-
tified, and yet the miniHry know nothing of it. Nay,
fome told me, that the anfwer was rather furly. Lord
^unvnjhendi^vtx-^ \\\\ but 1 think, by the defcription
of his cafe, it is not mortal. I was with our friend
at the back-flairs yefterday, and had the honour to be
called in, and prettily chid for leaving off, ^c. The
£rft part of the difcourfe was about you, Mr. Fopet
Curky and myfelf. My family are well : they, and
my brother in France, and one that is here, all
eive their fervice to you. If vou had been fo
luckv as to have gone to Pans laft fummer, you would
iave had health, honour, and diverfion in abundance i
for I will promife, you would have recovered of the
ipleen. I fnall add no more, but my kindeft wifhes,
and that 1 am, with the greateft affedion and refpeft*
yours, ijfc.
L E T-
[ 269 5
LETTER CCLIL
Monfieur Voltaire to Dr. S w i f T,
SIR, In London, at the White peiuke,
Covent-Gatden, 14th Dec. 1727.
I O U will be furprized in receiving an * EngUfi ef-
fay from a French traveller. Pray, forgive an ad-
mirer of j^ou, who owes to your writings the love he
bears to your language, which has betrayed him into
the rafli attempt of writing in EngliJJy.
You \\ill fee by the advertifement, that I have fome
defigns upon you, and that I muft mention you, for
the honour of your country, and for the improvement
of mine. Do not forbid me to grace my relation
with your name. Let me indulge the fatisfadlion of
talking of you, as pollerity will do.
In the mean time, can I make bold to intreat you to
make fome ufe of your intereft in Ireland, about fome
fubfcriptions for the Henriade ; which is almoft ready,
and does not come out yet for want of a little help t
The fubfcriptions will be but one guinea in hand. I
am, with the highefl; efteem, and the utmoft grati-
tude. Sir, your moll humble and moft obedient fer-
vant, VOLTAIRE.
* An efTiy on the civil wars of Frayia, which he made the foun-
dation of his Ihr.riade, an heroic poem, fince well known. He
had been imprifoned in the Bajlik, in Fans, but being releafed
about the year 1725, he came X.o England, and folicited fubfciip-
tlons for his poem. In about a Year and an half, he had made him-
felf marter of our language ; and, in 1727, when this letter was writ-
ten, he publifhed the cirjy here mentioned, with an efTay on the
epic poetry of the Ewotxjn nations, from Homer to Mi/tan.
LET-
I 270 1
LETTER CCLIir.
Monfieur Voltaire to Dr. S w i f f.
SIR,
1 SENT the other day a cargo of French dulnefs to
my lord lieutenant. My lady Bolingbroke has taken
upon herfelf to fend you one copy of the Henriade.
She is defirous to do that honour to my book ; and, I
hope, the merit of being prefented to you by her
hands will be a commendation to it. However, if fhe
has not done it already, I defire you to take one of
the cargo, which is now at my lord lieutenant's. I
wifh you a good hearing ; if you have got it, you
want nothing. I have not feen Mr. Pope this winter;
but I have feen the third volume of the Mi/cellanea ;
and the more I read your works, the more I am
afliamed of mine. I am, with refpeft, efleem, and
gratitude, Sir, your moll humble obedient fervant,
VOLTAIRE,
LETTER CCLIV.
Mr. Gay to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, V.-h;tchall, Feb. 15, 1727-8.
1 HAVE deferred writing to you from time to time,
till I could give you an account of the Begga-Zi Opera.
It is afted at the play-houfe in Lincoln' s-Inn-FieUs
with fuch fuccefs, that the play-houfe l^ath been
croudcd every night. Tonight is the fifteenth time
©f
[ 271 ]
©r a<fling ; and it Is thought it will run a fortnJgliit
longer. I have ordered Mcite * to (end the play to
you the firfl opportunity. I made no intereft, either
for approbation, or money ; nor hath any body been
pre/Ted to take tickets for my benefit : notwithftand-
hig which, I think, I fliall make an addition to my
fortune of between fix and feven hundred pounds. I
know this account will give you pleafure, as 1 have
pufhed through this precarious affair without fervility
or flattery.
■ As to any favours from great men, I am in the
fame ftate you left me ; but I am a great deal happier,
as I have no expe£lations. The duchefs oi ^eenjberry
hath fignalized her friendihip to me upon this occa-
fion, in fuch a confpicuous manner, that I hope (for
her fake) you will take care to put your fork to all its
proper ufes, and fuffer nobody for the future to put
their knives in their mouths f. 'hcird. Cobhatn fays,
that I Ihould have printed it in Italian over-againfl
the E/igliJh, that the ladies might have underftood
what they read. The outlandifli (as they now call it)
opera hath been fo thin of late, that fome have called
that \.\it Beggar'' i Opera j and, if the run continues, I
fear, I fhall have remonftrances drawn up againft me
by the royal academy 'of mufic. As none of us have
heard from you of late, every one of us are in con-
cern about your health : I beg we may hear from yoit-
fbon. By my conltant attendance on this affair, I
* ' Benjam'm, the bookfeller.'
\ See the letter of Ntvember (j, 17291
[ 272 1
have almoll worried myfelf into an ill ftate of health;
but I intend in five or fix days to go to our country-
feat at TiAJtckenham, for a little air. Mr. Pope is very
feldom in town. Mrs. Ho-jjard frequently afks after
you, and defires her compliments to you. Mr. George
Arbuthnot, the dodlor's brother, is married to Mrs.
Peggy Rohinfon.
I would write more, but as to-night is for my be-
nefit, I am in a hurry to go out about bufinefs. I am,
dear Sir, your moil afFeftionate and obedient fervant,
J. G A Y.
LETTER CCLV.
Mr. Gay to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, March 20, ijij-S.
-I AM extremely forry, that your diforder is returned;
but as you have a medicine, which hath twice remo-
ved it, I hope by this time you have again found the
good efFei^s of it. I have feen Dr. Belany at my
lodgings J but, as I have been for a few days with
Mr. Pulteney at Cajhioherry, I have not yet returned
his vifit. I went with him to wait upon lord Bathurjiy
and lord BoUngbroke ; both of whom defire me to make
you their compliments. Lady Bclingbroke was very
much out of order, and with my lord is now dXDanvky :
Ihe expedls a letter from you. Mrs. Hon.vard would
gladly have the receipt you have found fo much be-
nefit by : ihe is happier than I have feen her, ever
fince you have left us, for fiic is free as to her conjugal
affairs.
C 273 3
affairs, by articles of agreement. T!ie Beggar^s Opera
hath been afted now thirty-fix times, and was as full the
lafl night as the firfl ; and as yet, there is not the
leafl probability of a thin audience : though there is
a difcourfe about the town, that the do6lors of the
royal academy of mufic defgti to folicit againfl its
being played on the outlandifh opera days, as it is
now called. On the benefit-day of one of the aftrefTes
lafl week, one of the players falling fick, they were
obliged to give out another play, or difmifs the au-
dience. A play was given out, but the audience called
out for the Beggar''^ Opera ; and they were forced to
play it, or the audience would not have flaid.
I have got by all this fuccefs between feven and
eight hundred pounds; and Rich, dedufting the whole
charge of the houfe, hath cleared already near four
thoufand pounds. In about a month I am going to
Bath with the duchefs oi Marlborough, and Mr. Con"
gre-ue', for I have no expeflations of receiving any
favours from the court. The duchefs of ^eenjherry
is in Wiltjhtre, where fhe hath had the fmall-pox, in
fo favourable a way, that fhe had not above feven or
eight on her face ; fhe is now perfeftly recovered.
There is a metzotinto print publiflicd to-day of Polly^
the heroine of the Beggarh Opera * ; who was before
unknown, and is now in fo high vogue, that I am in
doubt, whether her fame does not furpafs that of the
opera itfelf. I would not have talked fo much on this
fubject, or upon any thing that regards myfelf, but
to you : as I know you interefl yourfelf fo lincerely
* Mifs Fenton,
Vol, II. T in
f 274 J
in every thing that concerns me, I believe you woalif
have blamed me, if I had faid lefs.
I faw Dr. Av'buthnot laft night with Mr. Letvisj
at Sir William Wyndhatti's, who, if he had not the
gout, would have anfwered your letter you fent him
a year and a half ago. He faid this to me a week
fince, but he is now pretty well again, and fo may
forget to write ; for which reafon, I ought to do him
juftice, and tell you, that I think him a iincere well-
wifher of yours. I have not feen Mr. Pope lately,
but have heard, that both he and Mrs.* Pope are every
well. I intend to fee him at T-jjickenham on Sunday
next. I have not drank out the Gutheridge cyder yet ;
but I have not fo much as a fingle pint of port in my
cellar. I have bought two pair of Iheets againft your
coming to town, fo that we need not fend any more
to Jernjais upon that account. I really mifs you every
day ; and I would be content, that you Ihould have
a whole window to yourfelf, and half another, to have
you again. I am, dear Sir, yours moft affectionately.
You have half a years intereft due at Lady-day, and
now it is March the 20th, 1727-8.
LETTER CCLVI.
Dr. Swift to Mr. W o r r a l l.
^^arket-Hill, Jan. 4, 172^
1 PAD your long letter, and thank you heartily for
your concern about my health. I continue vtxy deaf
* Mr. Popci rngther,
and
[ 275 1
and giddy ; but however, I would certainly come
to town not only for my vifitation, but becaufe
in thefe circumftances, and in winter, I had rather
be at home. But it is now Satuniay night, and that
beaft Sheridan is not yet come, although it has been
thawing fince Monday. If I do not come, you know
what to do.
My humble fervice to our friends, as ufuah
LETTER CCLVIL
Dr. Swift to Mr. Worrall.
Market-HIlI, Jan. 13, 1728-9*
I JUST received your letter, and fhould never have
done if I returned you thanks fo often as I ought for
youT care and kindnefs ; both my diforders dill con-
tinue ; however, I defire that Mrs. Brent razy m'akc
things ready, for my raggednefs will foon force me
away. I have been now ill about a month, but the
family are fo kind to fpeak loud enough for me to hear
them ; and my deafnefs is not fo extream as you have
known, when I have fretted at your mannerly voice,
and was only relieved by Mrs. Worrall.
I fend you inclofed the fruit of my illnefs, to make
an Intelligencer ; I defire you will inclofe it in a letter
to Mrs. Harding, and let your letter be in an unknown
hand, and defire her to fhew it to the author of the
Intelligencer, and to print it, if he thinks fit. There
is a letter, you will find, that is to be prefixed before
the verfes, which letter is grounded on a report, and
T2 if
[ 276 ]
if that report be falfe, the former part of the letter
will be unfeafonable, but the latter will not, and
therefore the Intelligencer muil be defired to alter it
accordingly.
It ihould be fent foon, to come time enough for the
next Intelligencer.
Pray, in your letter to Mrs. Harding, defire her to
make her people be more correal, and that the Intelli-
gencer himfelf may look over it, for that every body
who reads thofe papers, are very much offended with
the continual nonfenfe made by her printers.
I am yours, ► •
D. SWIFT.
LETTER CCLVIII.
Dr. Swift to Mr. Worrall.
Market- HiU, Jan, i8, 1728-9..
1 HAVE yours of the 14 inftant, but you had not
then received my laft, in which was inclofed a paper
for the Intelligencer, which I hope you have difpofed
of as defired. My diforder ftill continues the fame for
this fortnight paft, and am neither better nor worfe.
Hovvever, I refolve to return on the firft mending of
the weather ; thefe three lall days there being as
violent a ftorm as I have known, which ftill continues :
we have been told my lord MartcaJJell is dead at Drog-
hida, but believe it to be a lie. However, he is lb
tender, and affefts fo much vigour and fatigue, that
we have been in pain about him,
I had
C 2/7 3
I had a letter two days ago, which coft me fix flill-
lings and four-pence ; it confifted of the probate of
a will in Leiajierjhire, and of two inclofed letters, and
was beyond the weight of letters franked. When I
went a lad to my mother, after the revolution, Ihe
brought me acquainted with a family where there was
a daughter with whom I was acquainted. My prudent
mother was afraid I fhould be in love with her; but
when I went to London, fhe married an inn-keeper in
Loughboron.v, in that county, by whom fhe had feveral
children. The old mother died, and left all that fhe
had to her daughter aforefaid, feparate from her
hufband. This woman ( my millrefs with a pox )
left feveral children, who are all dead but one daugh-
ter, Ann by name. This Ann, for it mufl be fhe,
about feven years ago writ to me from London, to tell
me fhe was daughter of Betty Jones, for that was my
miftrefs's name, till fhe was married to one Perkins^
inn-keeper, at the George in Loughbormut as I faid be-
fore. The fubjeft of the girl's letter was, that a young
lady of good fortune was courted by an Irijhman, who
pretended to be barrack-mafter-general d'i Ireland, and
and defired me, as an old acquaintance of her mother,
Betty Jones, alias Perkins, to enquire about this Irifi^
man. I anfwered, that I knew him not, but fuppo-
fed he was a cheat.; I heard no more. But now comes
a letter to me from this Betty Jones, alias Perkins, to
let me know, that her daughter Ann Giles, married an
Irijhman, one Giles, and was now come over to Ireland
to pick up fome debts due to her hufband, which fhe
could not .get; that the young widow (for her hufhand
T 3 Giles
[ 278 3
Giles is dead) hath a mind to fettle in Ireland, and to
defire 1 would lend her daughter Giles three guineas,
which her mother will pay me when I draw upon her
in England, and Mrs. Giles writes me a letter to that
purpofe. She intends to take a Ihop, and will borrow
the money from Mrs. Brent (whofe name fhe hath
learned) and pay me as others do. I was at firft de-
termined to defire you would, from me, make her a
prefent of five pounds, on account of her mother and
grandmother, whom my mother ufed to call coufin.
She hath fent me an attefted copy of her mother's will,
which, as I told you, coft me fix killings and four-pence.
But I am in much doubt ; for by her mother's letters,
ihe is her heirefs, and the grandmother left Betty Jonesy
alias Perkins, the mother of this woman in Dublin,
all fhe had, as a feparate maintenance from her hufband
(who proved a rogue) to the value of five hundred
pounds. Now, I cannot conceive why (he would let
her only daughter and heirefs come to Ireland, with-
out giving her money to bear her charges here, and
put her in fome way. The woman's name is AnnGiles,
/he lodges at one yivs.Wibnot^s, the firft houfe in Molef-
nvorth-court, on the right hand, in Fifiamble-Jlreet.
I have told you this long ftory, to defire you will
fend for the woman, this Jnn Giles, and examine her
flriiftly, to find if fhe be the real daughter of ^//sa-
heth Jones, alias Perkins, or no, and how her mother,
who is fo well able, came to fend her in fo miferable
a condition to Ireland. The errand is fo romantic,
that I know not what to fay to it. I would be ready
\Q facrifice five pounds, on old acquaintance, to help
the
[ =79 ]
the woman ; I fufpeft her mother's letters to be coun-
terfeit, for I remember flie fpells like a kitchen maid.
And fo I end this worthy bufinefs.
My bookfeller, Mr. Mctie, by my recommendation,
dealt with i'\/lr.Myu/e ; there are fome accounts between
them, and Hy:/e is in his debt He hath defired me
to fpeak to Mr. Hyde's executors to ftate the account,
that Mr. Motte may be in a way to recover the balance.
I wiih you would ftep to Mr. Hyde'% houfe, and enquire
how that matter Hands, and how Mr. Motte is to be
paid. I fuppofe Mr. Hyie died in good circumftances,
and that there will be no danger of his creditors fufFer-
ing by his death.
I inclofe a letter to Mr. Motte, which you will be
fo kind to fend to the poft office.
I defire likewife that you will make Mrs. Srent buy
a bottle of ufquebaugh, and leave it with the woman
v/ho keeps ^\x Arthur Achefon ■& houfe mCapel-JIreet, and
defire her to deliver it to captain Creichton, who lodges
at the Pyed Hor/e, in Capel-Jireet, and is to bring down
other things to my lady Ache/on.
My mofl: humble fervice to Mrs. Worrall, Mrs.
Dingley, and love to Mrs. Brent.
I wilh you all a happy nev/ year.
L E T-
[ 280 3
LETTER CCLIX.
Mr. Gay to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, Bath, May 16, 1728,
i- HAVE been at the B^th about ten days, and I have
played at no game but once, and that at backgam^
mon with Mr. Leivis, who is very much your humble
fervant. Lord and lady Bolinghroke are here ; I think
(he is better : they Hay, as I guefs, about a fortnight
longer. They both defired me to make their compli-
ments ; as does Mr. Covgrenje *, who is in a \exy ill
ftate of health, but fomewhat better fince he came
here. I do not know how long I fhall ftay here,
becaufe I am now, as I have been all my life, at the
difpofal of others. I drink the waters, and am in
hopes to lay in a flock of health ; fome of which I
wifh to communicate to you. Dr. Del-anj told me you
had been upon a journey, and I really faiafy, taking
horfe is as good as taking the waters : I hope you
have found benefit by it. The Beggar's Opera is adled
here ; but our Polly hath got no fame, though the
adlors have got money. I have fent by Dr. Delany
the opera, Polly Peachum and captain Macheath. I
would have fent you my own head (which is now en-
graving) to make up the gang, but it is not yet
finilhed. 1 fuppofe you muft have heard, that I had
the honour to have had a fermon preached against
f ' He died iq January, 1728-9.'
my
r 2S1 ]
my works by a court-chaplain *, which I look upon
^s no fmall addition to my fame. Diredl to me here
when you write ; and the fooner that is, the fooner
you'll make me happy.
LETTER CCLX.
Mr. G A y to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, Bath, July 6, 1728.
1 HE laft news I have heard of you, was from Mr.
l^ancelot, who was at this place with lord SuJJcx, who
gave me hopes of feeing you the latter end of this
fummer. I willi you may keep that refolution, and
take the Bath in your way to town. You in all pro-
bability will find here feme, or moft of thofe you like
to fee. Dr. Arbuthnot wrote to me to-day from Tun-
bridge, where he is now for the recovery of his health,
having had feveral relapfes of a fever : he tells me he
is much better, and that in Auguft he intends to come
hither. Mr. Gcngre-ve and I often talk of you, and
wifh you health, and every good thing ; but often,
out of felf-intereft, we vvifii you with us. In five or
fix days, I fet out upon an excurfion to Herefordjhircy
to lady Scudamore's, but fhall return here the begin-
ning oi Auguji. I wifh you could meet me at Gutheridge,
The Bath did not agree with lady Bolingbroke. Since
* ' Dr. Thomas Herring, then preacher to the fociety of Liiico/n^S'
Inn, and afterwards archbifhop of Cd«/«r/;.vr)'. Dr. Sivift, in the
Intelligencer, N" III. publifhed in Ireland, fpeaks with great afpe-
rity of Dr. Herring, on account of his fermon againft the Beggar's
flie
[ ^8. ]
flic went to Da^johy, by her own inclination, without
the advice of phyficians, fhe hath taken to a milk-
diet, and writes me an account of prodigious good
elFeifls in the recovery of her appetite and fpirits. The
weather is extremely hot, the place is very empty. I
have an inclination to ftudy, but the heat makes it
impoffible. The d — of * I hear hath run
away with Polly Peachum, having fettled 40=/. a year
upon her during pleafure ; and, upon difagreenient,
20c/. a year. Mr. Pope is in a ftate of perfecution for
the Diinciad : I wifli to be witnefs of his fortitude, but
he writes but feldom. It would be a confolation to me
to hear from you. My portrait metzotinto is publifhed
from Mr. Houuardh painting ; I wifh to fend you one,
but I fanfy I could get a better impreffion at London.
I have ten thoufand things to talk to you, but few to
write; yet defer writing to you no longer, knowing
you intereft yourfelf in every thing that concerns me,
fo much, that I make you happy, as you will me, if
you can tell me you are in good health ; which I wifti
to hear every morning as foon as 1 awake. I am, dear
Sir, yours moft affeftionately.
* The duke of Bolton, who afterwards married M fs Fer.ton,
LET-
[ 283 ]
LETTER CCLXL
Dr. Swift to Mr. W o r r a l l .
Sep. 28, 1728.
4. HAD all the letters given me by my fervant : fo
tell Mrs. Brent * and Dr. Sheridan ; and I thank you
for the great care you had in the commiffions 1
troubled you with. We have a defxgn upon Sheridan.
He fent us in print a ballad upon BallvJ'pellin, in which
he has employed all the rhimes he could find to that
word ; but we have found fifteen more, and employed
them in abufing his ballad, and Bullyfpellin too. I
here fend you a copy, and defire you will get it
printed privately, and publifhed f . I am ever
yours, l^c,
LETTER CCLXIL
Mr. Gay to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, London, Dec. 2, 172S.
1 THINK this is my fourth letter ; I am fure it is
the third, without any anfwer. If I had any aflurance
of your health, I fliould have been more eafy. I
fhould have wrote to you upon this fubjeft above a
month ago, had it not been for a report, that you
were upon the road in your way to England; which
I fear now was without foundation. Lord and lady
* His houfckefper.
■j- The TCifes are printed in vol. xiv. Swift's works, 8vo edit.
Baling-
[ 284 ]
Bolinghroke are in town : flie hath been lately very ill,
but is now fomewhat better. I have had a very fevere '
attack of a fever, vviiich, by the care of our friend
Dr. Arbiuhnct, hath, I hope, almoft left me. I
have been confined about ten days, but never to my
bed, fo that I hope foon to get abroad about my buft-
nefs ; that is, the care of the fecond part of the Beg'
gar^s Opera, which v/as almoft ready for rehearfal ;
but Ricb received the duke of Graftoti% commands
(upon an information, that he was rehearfing a play
improper to be reprefented) not to rehearfe any new
play whatever, till his grace hath feen it. What will
become of it, I know not ; but I am fure, I have
written nothing, that can be legally fupprefied, un-
lefs the fetting vice in general in an odious light,
and virtue in an amiable one, may give offence. I
pafTed five or fix months this year at the Bath with the
duchefs of Marlborcugh ; and then, in the view of
taking care of myfelf, writ this piece. If it goes on,
in cafe of fuccefs, I have taken care to make better
bargains for myfelf: I tell you this, becaufe I know
you are fo good as to interefl yourfelf fo warmly in
my affairs, that it is what you would want to know.
I favv Mr. Pcpe on Friday, who, as to his health, is
juft as you left him. Dr. Arbuthnot particularly de-
lires his compliments ; and Mrs. Hoivard often aflcs
after you. Prince Frederick isexpefted over this week.
i hope to go abroad in two or three days. I wilh J
could meet you either abroad, or at home.
LET*
[ 2S5 ]
LETTER CCLXm.
M. Gay to Dr. S w i f t.
DEAR SIR, March iS, 1728-g.
1 HAVE writ to you feveral times ; and having
heard nothing from you makes me fear my letters are
mifcarried. Mr. Pope's letter hath taken off my con-
cern in fome degree ; but 1 hope good weather will
intirely re-eftabliih you in your health. I am but juft
recovered from the fevereft fit of ficknefs, that ever
any body had, who efcaped death. I was feveral
times given up by the phyficians, and every body thac
attended me ; and, upon my recovery, v/a5 judged to
be in fo ill a condition, that I fhould be miferable for
the remainder of my life : but, contrary to all ex-
pedation, I am perfeftly recovered, and have no re-
mainder of the diftempers that attacked me, which
were at the fame time, fever, afthraa, and pleurify.
I am now in the d\x\ie o{ Queen/berry'' s houfe, and have
been fo ever fince I left Hampjiead', v/here I was
carried at a time, that it was thought I could not live
a day. Since my coming to town, I have been very
little abroad, the weather has been fo fevere.
I muft acquaint you, (becaufe I know it will pleafe
you) that during my ficknefs I had many of the kin-
deft proofs of friendfhip, particularly from the duke
and duchefs oi ^eenjherry, who, if I had been their
neareft relation, and neareft friend, could not have
treated me with more condant attendance then ; and
they continue the fame to me. now.
3 "^'o'-i
[ 286 ]
You mufl undoubtedly have heard, that the ducliefs
took up my defence with the king and queen, in the
caufe of my play, and that Ihe hath been forbid the
court for interefting herfelf to increafe my fortune,
by the publication of it, without being afted. The
duke too hath given up his employments ( which he
would have done, if the duchefs had not met with this
treatment) upon account of ill ufage from the mi-
nifters ; but this haftened him in what he had deter-
mined. The play is now almoft printed, with the
muiic, words, and bafes, engraved on thirty-one
copper plates, which, by my friends affiftance, hath
a probability to turn greatly to my advantage. The
duehefs of Marlioroughhzth given me a hundred pounds
for one copy ; and others have contributed very hand-
fomely ; but, as my account is not yet fettled, I can-
not tell you particulars.
For writing in the caufe of virtue, and againll: the
fafliionable vices, I am looked upon at prefent as the
moft obnoxious perfon almoft in England. Mr. Pulte-
ney tells me, I have got the ftart of him. Mr. Pope
tells me, that I am dead, and that this obnoxioufnefs
is the reward for my inoffenfivenefs in my former life.
I wifh I had a book ready to fend you ; but, 1 believe,
I fhall not be able to compleat the work till the latter
end of next week. Your money is ftill in lord Batburjih
hands ; but, I believe, I fhall receive it foon : I wilh
to receive your orders how to difpofe of it. I am im-
patient to iinilh my work, for I want the country air;
not that I am ill, but to recover my ftrength ; and I
cannot leave the work till it is finifhed. While I am
writing
[ 287 1
writing this, I am in the room next to our di'ning-
room with (heets all round it, and two people from
the binder folding Iheet's. 1 print the book at my own
expence, in quarto, which is to be fold for fix {hil-
lings , with the mufic. You fee I do not want in-
duftry ; and, I hope you will allow, that I have not
the worft oeconomy. Mrs. Ho^mrd hath declared
herfelf ftrongly, both to the king and queen, as my
advocate. The duchefs of ^ee»jberry is allowed to
have Ihewn more fpirit, more honour, and more
goodncfs, than w'as thought pofhble in our
times ; I fhould have added too more under-
flanding and good fcnfe. You fee my fortune
(as I hope my virtue will ) increafes by op-
prefllon. I go to no courts ; I drink no wine % and
am calumniated, even by minifters ofilate, and yet
am in good fpirits. Moll of the courtiers, though
otherwife my friends, refufed to contribute to my
undertaking. But the city and the people of J?/;j--
/«W take my part very warmly ; and, I am told, the
beft of the citizens will give me proofs of it by their
contributions.
I could talk to you a great deal more, but I am
afraid I fhall write too much for you, and for myfelf.
I have not writ fo much together fince my ficknefs.
I cannot omit telling you, that Dr. Arbuthtict'% at-
tendance and care of me fhewed him the beft of friends.
Dr Hollings, though intirely a Rranger to me, was
jo'ned with him, and ufed me in the kindeft and moft
handfome manner. Mr. and Mrs. Pulte^iey were
greatly concerned for me, vifited rne, and (hewed me
the
[ 288 3
the flrongeft proofs of fnendfliip. When I fee you
I will tell you of others, as of Mr. Pope, Mrs. Blount t
Mr. and Mrs. Rollinfo?t, lord and lady Bolinghroke,Scc.
I think they are all your friends and well-wilhers. I
hope you will love them the better upon my account ;
but do not forget Mr. Le^is, nor lord Bathurji, Sir
William Wynham, and lord Go^jjcfj and lord Qxfordt
among the number.
LETTER CCLXIV.
Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift,
London, March 19, 1728-9.
1 HIS is the fecond or third time, dear Sir, that I
have wrote to you, without hearing a word of you, or
from you J only, in general, that you are very much
out of order; fometimes of your two old complaints,
the vertigo and deafncfs, which 1 am very forry for.
The eenileman, who carries this, hath come better
off than I did imagine : 1 ufcd my little intereft as far
as it would go, in his aff.iir. He will be able to give
you fome account of your friends, many of whom
have been in great uiftrefs this winter for "John Gay.
I may fay, without vanitv, his life, under God, 13
due to the unwearied endeavours and care of your
humble fervant: for a phyfician, who had not been
paffionately his friend, eould not have faved him. I
had, befides my perfonal concern for him, other mo-
tives of my care. He is now become a public per-
fon, a little Sachcverell; and I took th? fame pleafure
is
[ 2S9 3
in faving him, as Raddiffe did in preferving my lord
chief juilice HoW?. wife, whom he atitended out of
fpite to the hufband, who wi{hed her dead.
The inofFenfive John Gay is now become one of the
obftruftions to the peace of Europe, the terror cf the
jfitinifters, the chief author of the Cr^T/T/'J^/jw, and all
the feditious pamphlets, which have been publilhed
againft the government. He has got feveral turned
out of their places ; the greatefl ornament of the cOurC
banifhed from it for his fake ; another great lady in
danger of being chajfe likevvife ; about feven or eight
ducheffes puQiing forward, like the ancient drcumcel-
Hones in the church, who fhall fuffer m.artyrdom upon
his account hrft. He is the darling of the city. If he
ihould travel about the country, he would have heca-
tombs of roafted oxen facrificed to him, fince he be-
came fo confpicuous. PFilL Puhcney hangs his head,
to fee hlmfelf fo much outdone in the career of glory.
I hope he will get a good deal of money by printing
his play ; but, I really believe, he would get mora
by fhewing his perfon : and, I can afTure you, this is
the very identical yohn Gay, whom you formerly
knew, and lodged with in Whitehall tvjo years ago. I
have been diverting myfelf with making an extradl
out of a hiftory, which will be printed in the year
1948. I wifh I had your affiilance to go through"
with it ; for I can affure you, it rifeth to a very fo -
lemn piece of burlefque.
As tj the condition of your little clut, It is not
quife fo defperate as you might imagine ; for Mr,
Pope is as high in favour, as I am afraid the reft are
Vol. II. U out
£ 29© ]
cut of it. The king, upon the perufal of the laft
edition of his Dunciad, declared he was a very honefl
man. I did not know till this moment, that I had fo
good an opportunity to fend you a letter ; and now I
know it, am called away, and am obliged to end
with my bell wiihes and refpeds, being moll fmcerely
yours, k^c*
LETTER CCLXV.
Chevalier Ramsay to 'Dr. S w i f t.
SIR, London lo, 1729.
V-/NE of the greatell pleafures I propofed to myfel'f
in a journey to E/iglandy was that of feeing you at
London', and it is a very fenfible mortification to me
to find myfelf difappointed in fo agreeable an expec-
tation. It is now many years lince I had the higheft
efteem of your genius and writings ; and when I was
very young, I found, in fome of them, certain ideas,
that prepared me for relifhing thofe principles of uni-
verfal religion, which 1 have fince endeavoured to un-
fold in Cyrus. I could not let our common friend
"Mr. LeJIey* go back io Ireland, without feizing the
opportunity of acknowledging the obliging zeal you
have fhewn to make my work efleemed. Such marks
of friendfhip do me a great deal of honour, as well as.
pleafure, and I hope 1 have a thorough fenfe of them»
As I have much enlarged my book, I am going to pub-
lilh a new edition by fubfcription. I have given aa
* Son of the reverend Mr, Cbarln l^cjley, the famous Nonjuror.
hundred
f 291 ]
hundred copies of the propofals to Our friend, and
flatter myfelf, that I may count upon the continua-
tion of your friendfliip. I am, with great refpedl:.
Sir, your moft obliged and moft obedient humble
fcrvant, A. R A M S A Y;
LETTER CCLXVI.
Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift,
DEAR SIR, London, May 8, 1729,
1 HAVE wrote three times to Mr. Dean of St. Pa-*
trick's, without receiving fomuch as an acknowledge-
ment of the receipt of my letters. At the fame time I
hear of other letters, which his acquaintances receive
from him. I believe I ihould hardly have brought
myfelf to have written this, were it not to ferve you,
and a friend at the fame time.
I recommended one Mr. Mafcn, fon of Mafoit, gen-
tleman of the queen's chapel, a bary tone voice, for
the vacancy of a fmger in your cathedral. This letter
was wrote from Bath lad September. The fame Mo/on
informs me, that there is another vacancy : therefore
I renew my requell. I believe you will hardly get a
better: he has a pleafant mellow voice, and has fung
feveral times in the king's chapel this winter, to the
fatisfadion of the audience. I beg at leaft your an-
fwer to this. Your friends in town, fuch as I know,
are well. Mr. Pope is happy again, in having his
another recovered. Mr. diy is gone to S cot I a7id vi'ith.
th« duke of i^tenjherry. He has about twenty la w-
i U 2 fuits
[ 292 I
Tuits witli bookfellers for pirating his book. The
king goes foon to Hano^ver. Thefe are all the news I
know, I hope you don't imagine I am fo little con"
cerned about your health, as not to defire to be in-
formed of the Hate of it from yourfelf. I have been
tolerably well this winter, I thank God. My brother
Robin is here," and longs, as well as I, to know how
you do. This, with my befl wiflies and rcfpefts,
from, dear Sir, your moil faithful humble fervajit,
JO. A R B U T H N O T.
LETTER CCLXVII.
Dr. Arbuthnot to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, London, June 9, I72g»
,J. HIS is given you by "Mr.. Ma/on, whom I believe
you will find anfwering the charader I gave. of him,
which really was not partial ; for I am not fo much as
acquainted with his father or himfelf. I explained
every thing to him according to the tenor of the letter
which I received from you feme time ago, and for
which I moll heartily thank you. Let him now fpeak
for himfelf. I have been enquiring about a counter-
tenor; but have, as yet, no intelligence of any^
I am really fenlibly touched with the account you
give of Irela?id. It is not quite fo bad here; but
really bad enough : at the fame time we are told, that
we are in great plenty and happinefs.
Your friends, whom you mention in yours, are well.
-Mr. Gay, is returned from Scotland, and has recovered
his
C 293 5
his flrength by his journey. Mr. Pc/ie is well ; he
had got an injunftion in chancery againft the printers,
who had pirated his Dimciad : it was diflblved again,
becaufe the printer could not prove any property, nor
did the author appear. That is not Mr. G^zy's cafe;
for he has owned his book. Mr. Pulteney gives you
his fervice. They are all better than myfelf; for I
am now fo bad of a conftant convulfion in my heart,
that I am like to expire fometimes. We have no
news, that I know of. I am apt to believe, that in
a little time, this matter of the provifional treaty will
be on or off. The young man waits.for ray letter. I
iball trouble you no more at prefent, but remain,
with my beft wifhes, and moft fincere aft'edlion, dear
Sir, your moft faithful humble fervant,
T. AREUTHNOT.
LETTER CCLXVIIT.
Liady Catharine Jones * . to Dr. Swift.
SIR, Chelfea, June 11, 1729.
I RECEIVED the favour of your letter of the 2 1 of
May,' and own my obligation to Mr. Dean for the iu-
* * Daughter of Richard carl of "Randagh, who bad been pay-
Bfiafter-ger.era! ami governor of Chelfea hofpital, and great-niece to
Mr. Boyle, being one of the grand daughters of his fifler Catharine
countefs of Ranelagh.^
U 3 formation
f 294 ]
formation of the decay of my grandfather's * monu-
ment In the cathedral church o£ Si. Patrick.
Mr. French^ the prefent receiver of my father's
eftate, will be, feme time next month, in that king-
dom, whom I have ordered to wait upon you for your
direftion in that affair ; in which, when he has in-
formed me of the expence, I fhall immediately give
diredions to have it done, agreeably to the defirc of
the dean and chapter, as well as the duty done to the
memory of my grandfather, without adding further
trouble to Mr. Dean, from his moft humble and
obedient fervant,
CATHARINE JONES.
LETTER CCLXIX.
Lord BoLiNGBROKE to Dr. Swift,
Aixla-Chapelle, Aug, 30, T729. N. S,
1 TOOK a letter of yours from Pope, and brought
it with me to this place, that I might anfwer at leaft
a part of it. I begin to-day : when I Ihall finifh I
know not; perhaps when I get back to my farm.
The waters I have been perfuaded to drink, and
thofe, which my friends drink, keep me fuddled or em-
ployed all the morning. The afternoons are {pent in
airings or viiits, and we go to bed with the chicken f .
* A monument erected to the memory of archb'fliop ^owj, and
his fon lord vifcoujit Ranehigb. It was then in 3 ruinous condition j
but repaired by the order of this lady,
f ' The remainder of this letter, dated Brufle's. Sept, 27, is piin-
i.td in Mr. Potii works, Vol. IX.'
, ' LI T*
C 295 1
LETTER CCLXX.
Mr. G A y to Dr. S w i f t.
Middleton Stoney, Nov. 5, I749.
I HAVE long known you to be my friend upon fe-
veral occafions, and particularly by your reproofs and
admonitions. There is one thing, which you have
often put me in mind of, the over-running you with
an anfwer before you had fpoken. You find I am not
a bit the better for It ; for 1 ftill write and write on,
^vithout having a word of an anfwer. I have heard
of you once by Mr. Pope : let Mr. Pope hear of yoit
the next time by me. By this way of treating me,
I mean, by your not letting me know, that you re-
member me, you are very partial to me, I lliould have
faid, very juft to me. You feem to think, that I do
not want to be put in mind of you, which is very true ;
for I think of you very often, and as often wirti to be
with you. I have been in Oxfordjhtrt with the duke
of i;^irfAyZ'c;/7 for thefe three months, and have had
very little corrcfpondence with any of our friends.
I have employed my time in new-v/iiting a damned
play, which I wrote feveral years ago, called the -ivife
of Bath * . As it is approved or difapproved of by
* This comef?y was the firft he wrote, and was unfaccefsfully
performed at the theatre in Drury Lane, in the year 1713. It
was altered by the author, an i revived feveral year"; after [1729-30]
at the theatre in Lincoln's inn-ficlds, and damned a fecond time,
al'hough the author's re:;utaion was then at its height, from tlie
ujiconnmon fu cefs of his Beggar' s Opera<
U 4 my
I 296 1
Sly friends, when I come to town, I fliall either havjj
it afted, or let it alone, if my * * brethren do not
take offence at it. The ridicule turns upon fuperfti-
tion, and I have avoided the very words bribery and
corruption. Folly indeed is a word, that I have ven-
tured to make ufe of; but that is a term, that never
gave fools offence. It is a common faying, that he
js wife^ that knows himfelf. What hath happenedl
of late, I think, is a proof, that it is not limited to
the wife.
P/Ty lord ^athurjl is flill our cafhier : when I fee
him, I intend to fettle our accounts, and repay my-
felf the five pounds of the two hundred I owe you.
Next week [ believe I fhall be in town ; not at
Whitehall, for thofe lodgings were judged not con-
venient for me, and were difpofed of. DIrefl to me
to the duke of ^eenjhenyh, in Burlitigtcn-gardenSt
near Piccadilly. You have often twitted me in the
teeth for hankering after the court. In that you
Hilflook me ; for I know by experience, that there is
no dependance, that can be fure, but a dependance
upon one's felf. I will take care of the little fortune
I have got. t know you will take this refolution
kindly, and you fee xny Inclinations will make m.e
write to you, whether you will write to me or no. I
am, dear Sir, yours moft fincerely and mcft affec-
tionately,
J. G A y.
p. S. To the lady I live with I owe my life and for-
tune': think of her with refpeft; value and efleem
he?
£ =97 ]
-her as I do ; and never more defpife a fork with
three prongs. I wifli too you would not eat froni"
the point of your knife *. She hath fo much
goodnefs, virtue, and generofity, that if you
knew her, you would have a pleafure in obeying
her as I do. She often wilhes Ihe had known you.
LETTER CCLXXI.
Lord B to Dr. Swift.
DEAR DEAN, Febr. 12, 17:9.30.
1 HAVE this moment received a letter from you ;
but it is the firfl I can call a letter : the other fcraps
were only to dire£t me to convey your correfpondence
to others, and I thought I anfwered them bell by
obeying your commands. But now you have deigned
to fend mc one in form, with a proper beginning and
ending, I will not wait even for a poft-day ; but I
have taken pen and ink immediately to tell you, how
ijtiuch I think myfelf obliged to you, and how fince-
rely I am —
Well, I might end here, if I would ; but I can't
part with you fo foon ; and I muft let you kno'.v, that
as to your money affairs, though I have paid oif yc/j/t
Gay, I flill keep the zoo I. for which I have given
him a note. I have paid him intereft to this time for
it, which he muft account to you for. Now you muft
imagine, that a man, who has nine children to feed,
can't long afford alienos pafccre tiummos ; but I have
• See the letter of Ftr^. 15, 1727-8,
four
r 29S ]
four or five, that are very fit for tlie table *. I only
-wait for the lord mayor's day to difpofe of the largell: ;
and I fhall be fure of getting off the youngcft, when-
ever a certain great man f makes another enter-
tainment at CZi"^c«. Now you fee, though I am your
debtor, I am not without my proper ways and means
to raife a fupply anfwerable to your demand. I muft
own to you, that I fhould not have thought of this
method of raifing money ; but that you feemed to
point it out to me. For jull at the time that fcheme
came out, which pretended to be calculated only for
Irela?id, you gave me a hint in one of the envelopes
[anglice coders 1 that you wilhed I might provide for
my numerous family; and in this lait you harp upon
the fame Hiing. I did immediately propofe it to lady
Batkurjl as your advice, particularly for her laft boy,
which was born the plumpeft, finell thing, that could
be feen ; but fhe fell in a paffion, and bid me fend
you word, that fhe would not follow your direftion,
but that fhe would breed him up to be a parfon, and
he fiiould iji/e upon the fat of the land ; or a lawyer,
and then, inflead of being cat himfelf, he fnoukl de-
vour others. You know women in pafhon never mind
* This all'.ides to a Xxzd. of the Dean's, intituled, " A modeft
" propofal for preven ing the chi'dren of po.r people m Leland
" from bfing a burden to their parents or country, ajid for niakiog
*' them beneficial to the public. " 1 he Dean had propof d many
uf'elul fch^mfs, vihxh having been n-gleifted, he fft ricaily a d
humourcudy prrp: fes to faten and eat :he children of the poor, as
the only remaining exj;edient to prevint mifeiy to themfclves,. and
render them of fome bentfit to the puLhc,
•f ' Sir R'ict Wa'-xk:
what
t 299 1
what they fay; bat, as fhe is .1 very rcSfonable
woman, I have almoft brought her over now to your
opinion ; and having convinced her, that as matters
flood, we could not poflibly maintain all the nine,
fhe does begin to think it reafonable the youngefl:
fhould raife fortunes for the eldeft. And upon that
foot a man may perform family duty with more cou*
rage and zeal ; for if he fhould happen to get twins,
the felling of one might provide for the other. Or
if, by any accident, whilft his wife lies-in with one
child, he fhould get a fecond upon the body of another
woman, he might difpofe of the fatteft of the two,
and that would help to breed up the other. The
more I think upon this fcheme, the more reafonable
it appears to me ; and it ought by no means to be
confined to Ireland; for in all probability we fhall,
in a very little time, be altogether as poor here as you
are there. I believe indeed we fhall carry it farther,
and not confine our luxury only to the eating of chil-
dren ; for I happened to peep the other day into a
large affembly * not far from Weft mi nfter- hall, and
I found them roafting a great fat fellow f- For my
©wn part, I had not the leaft inclination to a flice of
him; but, iflguefTed it right, four in five of the
company had a devilifh mind to be at him. You begin
now to wifh I had ended, when I might have done it
fo conveniently. Well, Adieu.
* ' The parliament,'
-j- < iir Ktb'.rt Walpoh,^
LET-
t 30^ 1
LETTER CCLXXir.
Mr. Gay to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, Landoi^, March 3, 1729:30,
1 FIND you are determined not to write to me, ac-
cording to our old iHpulation. Had I not been every
poft for fome time in expeftation to have heard from
you, I fliould have wrote to you before, to let you
know the prefent flate of your affciirs. Let me know
what I iTiall do with the intereft-money I have received.
What I have done for you, I did for myfelf, which
will be always the way of my tranfadling any thing
for you. My old vamped play got me no money ;
for it had no fuccefs. I am going very foon into
Wilijhire with x.h.e 6.ak.e oi ^eenjlierry , with intention
to ftay there till the winter. Since I had that fcvere fit
of ficknefs, I iind my health requires it j for I cannot
bear the town as I could formerly. I hope anotheij
fummer's air, and exercife, will reinftate me. I con-
tinue to drink nothing but water, fo that you can't
require any poetry from me. I have been very fel-
dom abroad fince I came to town, and not once at
court. This is no rellraint upon me, for I am grown
©Id enough to wifh for retirement. I faw Mr. Pcpe a
day or fwo ago in good fpirits, and with good wiflies
for you. We always t^iLk of you ; the dodor does the
fame. I have left off all great folks but our own fa-
mily. Perhaps you will think all great folks little
enough to leave off us, in our prefent fituation. I
don't hate the world, but I laugh at it ; for none
but
r 301 }
but fools can be in earneft about a trifle. I am, dea»
Sir, yours moil afredlionately.
Dired for me at the D ■ ■ of ^ , in Bitr-
liugton-gariiens.
LETTER CCLXXIII.
Mr. Gat to Dr. S w i f r.
DEAR SIR, M2rch3i, i73«,
1 EXPECT, in about a fortnighr, to fet out for
Wiltjhire, and am as impatient as you feem to be to
have me get on horfeback. I thought proper to give
you this intelligence, becaufe Mr. Lexvis told me lalt
Sunday, that he was, within a day or two, to fet out
for the Bath ; fo that very foon you are like to have
neither of your cafhiers in town. Continue to diretS:
for me at this houfe : the letters will be fent to me,
where-ever I am. My ambition, at prefent, is level-
led to the fame point, that you diredl me to ; for I
am every day building villakins, and have given over
that of callles. If I were to undertake it in my prefent
circumflance, I fhould, in the moft thrifty fcheme,
icon be ftraitened ; and I hate to be in debt ; for I
can't bear to pawn five pounds worth of my liberty to
a taylor or a butcher. I grant you, this is not having
the true fpirit of modern nobility; but it is hard to
cure the prejudice of education. I have made your
compliments to Mr. P ; who is very much your
humble fervant. I have not feen the dodlor, and am
not like to fte his Rouen brother very foon ; for he is
gone
r 302 ]
gone to China. Mr. Pope told me, he had acquainted
the dodor with the misfortune of the four hermitage,'
My lord Oxford told me, he at prefent could matck
yours, and from the fame perfon. The doftor was
touched with your difappointment, and hath promi-
fed to reprefent this affair to his brother, at his return
from China. I affureyOu, for all your gibes, that
I wifh you heartily good wine, though I can drink
none niyfelf. When lord Bolingbroke is in town, he
lodges at Mr. Chctivynifs, in Do'vcr-JIreet. I do not
know how to direft to him in the country. I have
been extremely taken up of late in fettling a lleward's
account. I am endeavouring to do all the jullice
and fervice I can to a friend ; fo I am fure you will
think I am well employed upon this occafion. I now
and then have feen Jo. Taylor, who fays he hath a
demand upon you for rent, you having taken his
houfe in the country, and he being determined not to
let it to any body elfe ; and he thinks it but reafonable,
that you fliould either come and live in it, or pay
your rent. I neither ride nor walk ; but I defign to
do both this month, and to become a laudable
practitioner.
The duchefs wifhes fhe had feen you, and thiaks
you were in the wrong to hide yourfelf, and peep
through the window, that day fhe came to Mr.
Pope's. The duke too is obliged to you for your
good opinion, and is your humble fervant. If I were
to write, I am afraid I fhould incur the difpleafure
of my fuperiors. I can't for my life think fo well of
them, as they themfelve^ tiiink they deferve. If you '
hav«
C 303 ]
have a very great mind to plcafe the Juchefs, and at
the fame time to pleafe mc, I vvilh you would write a
letter to her, to fend to her brother, lord CornLwy, to
advife him in his travels ; for, flie fays, flie would
take your advice rather than mine ; and Ihe remem-
bers, that you told her in the Park, that you loved
and honoured her family. You always infilled upon
a lady's making advances to you ; I do not know
whether you will think this declaration fufiicient.
Then too, when you were in England, fhe writ a let-
ter to you, and I have been often blamed fince for not
delivering it.
The day the penfion bill was thrown out of the
hoiife of lords, lord Bathurjl fpoke with great applaufe.
I have not time to go to Mr. Pcpc'-i : in a day or two
very probably I iliall fee him, and acquaint him about
the ufquebaugh. I will not iir.bczzle your intercii-
money ; though, by looking over your accounts, I
fee how money may be imbczxled. As to my being
engaged in an affair of this kind, I fay nothing for
myfelf, but that I will do all 1 can : for the reft I
leave Jo. Taylor to fpeak for me. To-day I dine
with alderman Barber, the prefent flieriff, who holds
his feaft in the city. Does not Cbarteris's misfor-
tunes * grieve you ? For that great man is like to fave
his life, and lofe fome of his money. A very hard cafe !
P. S. I am juft now come from the alderman's feaft,
who had a very fine dinner, and a very line ap-
pearance of company.
The poll is juft going away.
• ' He was conderr.nedatihe Old Bai/ey.Felf 27,1729-30. for a ri^^e.*
L L T-
i 3^4 J
LETTER CCLXXIV.
Lord B — to Dr. Swift.
DEAR DEAN, June 30, lysc^,'
1 RECEIVED a letter from you feme time ago,
which gave me infinite pleafure ; and I was going to
return you an anfwer immediately : but when I fat down
to write, I found r;y thoughts rolled upon the trifles,
■which fill the icene of life in that bufy, fenfelefs place,
where I then was * ; and though I had nothing to dd
there, at leaft nothing worth doing, and time lay
upon my hands, I was refolved to defer writing to
yOu, till I could clear my head from that rubbilh,
which every one mufl: contra(5l in that place. I cannot
but fanfy, if one of our heads were differed after
paifing a winter's campaign there, it wofild appear juft
like a pamphlet fhop ; you'd fee a colle£lion of trea-
ties, a bundle of farces, a parcel of encomiums,
another of fatires, fpeeches, novels, fermons, bawdy
fongs, addrefTes, epigrams, proclamations, poems,
divinity, ledtures, quackbills, hillorical accounts,
tables, and God knows what.
The moment I got dov*n here, I found myfelf quite
clear from all thofe affairs : but really, the hurry of
bufmefs, which came upon me after a ftate of idlcneft
for fix months, mufl excufe me to you. Here I am
abfolute monarch of a circle of above a mile round,
at leail one hundred acres of ground, which (to fpeak
in the ftile of one of your countrymen) is very po-
pulous in cattle, filh, and fowl.
* Landiit, T*"
[ 305 ]
To enjoy this power, which I relilh extremely,
and regulate this dominion, which I prefer to any
other, has taken up my time from morning to
night. There are Taboos in the neighbourhood ;
but having read in hiftory, that the fouthern part of
Britain was long defended againll the PiJis by a wall,
I have fortified my territories all round. That wife
people the Chinefe, you know, did the fame thing to
defend thcmfelves agalnft the Tartars. Now, I think
on it, as this letter is to be fent to you, it will cer-
tainly be opened ; and I (hall have fome obfeniations
made upon it, becaufe I am within three miles of a
certain caflle. Therefore, I do hereby declare, that
nothing herein contained fhall extend, or be conftrued
to extend, fo far : and further-more, I think myfelf
in honour bound to acknowledge, that under our
prefentjuft and prudent miniftry, I do not fear the
leaft moleftation from that quarter. Neither are the
fortifications afore-mentioned in any-wife defigned to
keep them out ; for I am well fatisfied they can break
through much flronger fences than thefe, if they fhould
have a mind to it. Obferve how naturally power and
dominion are attended with fear and precaution. When
I am in the herd, I have as little of it about me as
any body ; but now that I am in the midft of my own
dominions, I think of nothing but preferving them,
and grow fearful, left a certain great man Ihould take
a fancy to them, and tranfport them into Norfolk *, to
place them in an ifland in one of his new-made fifh-
ponds. Or; if you take this for too proud a thought,
• ' To Houghton, the feat of Sir Rohcit Walpolc"
voL.ir. X I will
I will only fuppofe it to be hung out under a great
bow-window.
In either cafe I muft confefs to you, that I don't
like it. In tlie.firft place, I am not fure his new-niade
ground may hold good : in the latter cafe, I have
fome reafon to doubt the foundations of his houfe are
not fo folid, as he may imagine. Now, therefore, I
am not fo much in the wrong, -as you may conceive,
to defire, that my territory may remain where it is :
for, though I know you could urge many arguments
to ihew the advantages I might reap by being fo near
him, yet I hold it as a maxim, that he who is con-
tented with what he has, ought not to rifque" that,
even though he fliould have a chance to augment it in
any proportion. I learned this from our friend Era/-
mus ; and the corrupt notions, that money is power,
and therefore every man ought to get as much as he
can, in order to create more power to himfelf, have
no weight with me.
But now, to begin my letter to you, I have received
four bottles of ufquebaugh, and fent three of them
to Mr. Pope ; fo that I have detained only one for
myfelf. I don't believe, fuch an inflance of honefly,
punftuality, difmtereftednefs, and felf-denial, can be
given in this age. The whole being in my power,
I have with-held but the quarter part. I expeft, if
ever I come to be a great man, you will write a vin-
dication of me, whether I am afperfed or not. Till
then, I remain your mofl faithful and moll obedient
fervant.
5 ^^ E T-
[ 307 1
LETTER CCLXXV.
Mr. Gay to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, Amelbury, July 4, 173O.
You tell me, that I have put myfelf out of the
way of all my old acquaintance, fo that unlefs
I hear from you, I can know nothing ot you. Is it
not barbarous then to leave me fo long without
writing one word to me ? If you can't write to me
for my fake, methinks you might write for your own.
How do you know what is become of your money ?
If you had drawn upon me, when I expefted it, you
might have had your money, for I was then in town ;
but I am now at Jtfiefiury, at the duke of ^eenjberyy's.
The duchefs fends you her fervices. I wilh you were
here : I fanfy you would like her and the place. You
might fanfy yourfclf at home ; for we have a cathedral
near us, where you might find a bifliop of the fame
name * You might ride upon the downs, and write
conjeftures upon Stonehenge. We are but five and
twenty miles from the Bath', and I was told this very
evening by general Dormer, ( who is here ) that he
heard fomewhere or other, that you had fome inten-
tions of coming there the latter feafon. I wifh any
thing would bring us together, but your want of
health. J have left oiFwine and writing ; for I really
think, that man muft be a bold writer, who trufts to
wit without it. I took your advice j and fome time
* ' Dr. Benjamin HoadJy, bifJiop of Sa.'ijhuy, whofe b'Othcr,
Dr yohn Hoadly fucceeded a:chbifliop King in the fee of Dublin,
Jan. J9, 1729-30.'
X 2 ago
[ 3oS ]
ago took to love, and made fome advances to the lady,
yoii fcnt me to in Soho, but 1 met no return ; fo I have
given up all thoughts of it, and have now no purfuit
or amufement. A fiate of indolence is what I don't
like; 'tis what I would not chufe. I am not think-
ing of a court, or preferment ; for I think the lady
I live with is my friend, fo that I am at the heighth of
my ambition. You have often told me, there is a time
of life, that every one wifhes for fome fettlement of
his own. I have frequently that feeling about me, but
I fanfy it will hardly ever be my lot ; fo that I will
endeavour to pafs away life as agreeably as I can, the
the way I am in. I often wilh to be with you, or you
with me ; and I believe you think I fay true. I am
determined to write to you, though thofe dirty fellows
of the poft-oEce do read my letters ; for fmce I faw
you, I am grown of that confequence to be obnoxious
to the men I defpife ; fo that it is very probable in
their hearts they think me an honeft man. I havs
heard from Mr. Pope but once fmce I left London : I
was forry I faw him fo feldom, but I had bufmefs^
that kept me from him. I often wi(h we were together
ao-ain. If you will not write, come. I am, dear Sir,
yours mod afte£lionately.
LETTER CCLXXVI.
Lord B — to Dr. Swift.
DEAR SIR, Cirencefter, Sspt, 9, 173P.
1 OU have taken all the precaution, which a reafon-
able man could poffibly take, to break off an imperti-
nent correfpondence, and yet it will not do. One
muft
[ 3'^9 ]
iriufl be more llupid than a Dutch burgomafler, not to
fee through the defign of the laft letter. " I fhew all
your letters to our hij}? wits. One of them is going
to write a treatife of EngJifb bulls and blunders."
And for further fecurity, you add at lart, I am going
to take a progrefs, God knows where, and fhan't
be back again God knows when. I have given
you a reafonable breathing time ; and now, I muft at
you again. I receive fo much pleafure in reading
your letters, that according to the ufual good-nature
and juftice of mankind, I can difpenfe with the trou-
ble I give you in reading mine ; but if you grow ob-
ftinate, and won't anfwer, I'll plague and peiler you,
and do all 1 can to vex you. I'll take your works ta
pieces, and fhew you, that it is all borrowed or dole.
Have not you ftol'n he fweeteft of your numbers from
Dry den and Waller? Have not you borrowed thoughts
from Virgil and Horace ? At leafl-, I am fure I have
feen fomething like them in thofe books. As to your
profe writings, which they make fuch a noife about,
they are only fome little improvements upon the hu-
mour you have ftole from Miguel de Cer-va?ites and
Rabelais. Well, but the llile, a great matter
indeed, for an Englijhman to value himfelf upon,
that he can write Englip : why, I write Englip too,
but it is in another Itile.
But I won't forget your political trails. You may
fay, that you have ventured your ears at one time,
and your neck at another, for the good of your coun-
try. Why, that other people have done in another
manner, upon lefs occafions, and are not at all proud
4 of
r 3^0 I
ofit. . Vou Have overturned and fupportednnnifters j
you have fet kingdoms in a flame by your pen. Pray^
what is there in that, but having the knack of hittino-
the paffions of mankind? With that alone, and a lit-
tle knowledge of ancient and modern hiftofy, and
feeing- a little further into the infide of things than
the generality of men, you have made this buftle.
There is no wit in any of them : I have read them
all over, ,and don't remember any of thofe pretty
flowers, thofejuft antithefes, which one meets with fo
frequently in the French writers. None of thofe clever
turns upon words, nor thofe apt quotations out of
Latin authors, which the writers of the laft age.
amongftus abounded in. None of thofe pretty fimiles,
which fome of our modern authors adorn their works
with, that 'are not only a little like the thing they
would illuftrate, but are alfo like twenty other
things. In Ihort, as often as I have read any of your
tradls, I have been fo tired with them, that I have
never been eafy till I got to the end of them. I have
found i»y brain heated, my imagination fired, juft as
if I was drunk. A pretty thing indeed for one of
your gown to value himfelf upon, that with fitting-
ftill an hour in his ftudy, he has often made three
kingdoms drunk at once.
I have twenty other points to maul you upon, if
you provoke me ; but if you are civil, and good-na-
tured, and will fend me a long, a very long letter,
in anfwer to this, I will let you alone a good while.
Well, adieu. If I had a better pen, I can tell you,
?liat I Ihould not have concluded fo foon.
LET-
[ 3 1 !
LETTER CCLXXVII.
Lady Bi G * to Dr. Swift.
London, Sept. ig, 1730,
JH. AD I not been retired into the country, yours
Ihould have been anfvvcred long ago. As to your
poetefs, I am her obliged fervant, and mull confefs
the fact is juft as you Hate it. It is very true I was
gaming; and upon the dapper youth's delivering me
a paper, which I juft opened, found they were verfes ;
fo flunk them into my pocket, and there truly they
were kept exceeding private; for I cannot accufemy-
felf of Ihewing- them to a mortal. But let me alTurc
you, it was not out of modeily, but in great hopes/
that the author would have divulged them ; which,
you know, would have looked decenter than trum-
peting my own fame. But it feems unhappily we
were both bit, and judged wrong of each other. How-
ever, fince you delire it, you may be very fure fhe
fhall not fail of my entreaties to his grace the duke of
Dorfet for her, though you have not yet let me into
* This lady was daughter of the earl of Berkeley, one of the
lords juftices cf/r?/a«rf in 1699, wiih whom Dr. Sivift went over
as chaplain, and p ivate fccie'ary. He lived in his lordfhip's fa-«
miJy at the caftle of Duhlin ; anii lady Betty Beihcly finding a bal-
lad on the game of traffic unfinished upon Swift'' table, added a
flanza of raillery upon him, and left the pa,er where (be found it.
This occafioned another ballad of Swift's, to the tunt; of The
Curjjurfe. The ballad nn traffic is found am<ing the porthumous
Pieces in vol, vii. and that to the tune of The Cut/:urfe in vol. vi,
1 754, 8vo. Lady Betty Berkeley married Sir John Germain baronet,
^f Drayton, in NjrtLarf.p'.orJhire,
the
[ 312 ]
the fecret what her requefl; is ; fo till my lord Carteret
does his part, or that I hear from you again, it will
be but a blind fort of a petition. I have not feen his
grace this great while, and he is now at WindfoVi and
I chufc rather to (peak to him on all accounts, hav-
ing not fo fine a talent at writing. But as you are
commonly efteemed by thofe^ who pretend to know
you, to have a tolerable fhare of honefty and brains, I
do not queftion your doing what is right by him; nor
his paying you all the civility and kindnefs you can
defire. Nor will I hope their influence ever can make
him do otherwife, though he has the unfafhionable
quality of eftecming his old friends ; but however
partial to them, yet not to be bialfed againft his own
fenfe and judgment. The confequence of this, I hope,
v.ill be your coming to E?jgland, and meeting often
with him, (in lady Betty's chamber*) where the
happy compofition f fliall exert her Ikill in ordering
dinner ; and I won't miftake oil of amber for the fpi-
rit of it, but continue as I ever was, your fincere
friend, as well as faithful humble fcrvant.
* Alluding to the firft line of Frances Harris's petition. See
vol. vi. of ^w//i''s works, edit. 1754, 8vo.
f Mrs. BiJ^y Floyd. This expreflion alludes to the hft verfe
of a little pcemi f ^wZ/f, intitled, a receipt to form a beauty, "And
calTd the happy conipofuion F/oyrf." This laJy is mentioned in
the ballad on the game of traffic, as being one of the party at lord
Berkeley's, and at this time lived with lady Betfy.
■ END of V O L. ir.
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